A two-volume photo album, prepared in collaboration between Konya Metropolitan Municipality and the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), will shed light on approximately 150 years of Konya's history.
The second volume of the album titled Konya Photographs Collection 1876-1954, whose first volume was introduced in Istanbul, was unveiled at a program held at the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stone Building Culture and Art Center.
Speaking at the program, IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Erol Kılıç highlighted that the scientific aspect of the project, which is the product of great effort, was prepared within IRCICA’s framework. He stated, “The album was brought to life through the efforts of Konya Metropolitan Municipality. This is a beautiful example of a strong collaboration. When institutions combine their strengths in this way, remarkable works can emerge. This project holds significant documentation in terms of photographic, documented, and visual historiography of our recent history. I extend my gratitude to the Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality and hope that our collaboration will continue with other projects.”
Mayor Altay stated, “Since the day I took office, we have been working very closely with IRCICA. This photo album is the first tangible result of our collaboration. Additionally, we are now organizing our competition on traditional arts in partnership with IRCICA. We are carrying out many other projects together as well. I thank them for their contributions and support to Konya. Hopefully, we will continue to achieve great things together.”
Konya Governor İbrahim Akın noted that introducing such a beautiful work simultaneously while celebrating Şeb-i Arus adds a special charm.
The Konya Photographs Collection Album, featuring photographs taken in Konya from approximately 150 years ago, includes images dating from as early as 1876 to as recent as 1954. The album consists of 601 photographs sourced from 16 different collections, including unique images from Sultan Abdülhamid II’s Yıldız Albums.
The album stands out as the most comprehensive work in terms of the number and detail of photographs, featuring high-resolution images, exceptional clarity, large dimensions, and thorough photographic analyses.
