November 28- 30, 2013

in cooperation with: Women’s Museum Istanbul,  Koç University’s Center for Gender Studies (KOÇ-KAM), and the Gender and Women’s Studies Forum at Sabancı University

“Semiha Es - The Women Photographers International Symposium”, which was held on 28th to 30th of November within the framework of the “Women's Cultural Heritage” activities of the Women's Museum Istanbul (WMI), was organized to commemorate Semiha Es, the first travel and war photographer of the Turkish press, who took photos in the Korean War and died in 2012.

The documentary “Semiha Es” was screened at the opening of the symposium held at Cezayir Meeting Hall. The Symposium was held in cooperation with Women’s Museum Istanbul,  Koç University’s Center for Gender Studies (KOÇ-KAM), and the Gender and Women’s Studies Forum at Sabancı University.

In the symposium, the place of women photographers in the 21st century in the world of photography, their contributions and how the dominant view on photography was questioned from a gender perspective were discussed through a series of panels and roundtable discussions on war, women's body, violence, memory, and documentary and art photography.

The photo exhibitions, a parallel event of the symposium, were opened to visitors on November 29 at Sismanoglo Megaro, the Greek Consulate General's exhibition venue, on Istiklal Street. The photography exhibition "Semiha Es" was organized in the honor of Semiha Es, the first travel and war photographer of the Turkish press, aimed to demonstrate Semiha Es's contribution to the history of photography in Turkey, and the exhibition "Second Eye: Women Photographers from Turkey", displaying the work of 26 female photographers from Turkey, aimed to make visible the potential of female artists, who had created a significant knowledge and artistic richness in Turkey after 1980, to introduce women photographers who have been intense creating until today and women artists who use photography as an artistic way of expression, and to show their contributions to the subjectivation of photographic expression. The works included in the exhibitions curated by Ahu Antmen were compiled in a book.

The main sponsors of the symposium were Koç University, Sabancı University, Istanbul Women's Culture Foundation, Open Society Foundation and Chrest Foundation, and the promoters included the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul, Rafineri, Zarakol Communication Services, Borusan Holding, Leyla Alaton, Cezayir, Nomade Hotel, Crowne Plaza Harbiye, SIGMA fotopro, Yapı Kredi Bank Koç University Branch.

November 28- 30, 2013

in cooperation with: Women’s Museum Istanbul,  Koç University’s Center for Gender Studies (KOÇ-KAM), and the Gender and Women’s Studies Forum at Sabancı University

“Semiha Es - The Women Photographers International Symposium”, which was held on 28th to 30th of November within the framework of the “Women's Cultural Heritage” activities of the Women's Museum Istanbul (WMI), was organized to commemorate Semiha Es, the first travel and war photographer of the Turkish press, who took photos in the Korean War and died in 2012.

The documentary “Semiha Es” was screened at the opening of the symposium held at Cezayir Meeting Hall. The Symposium was held in cooperation with Women’s Museum Istanbul,  Koç University’s Center for Gender Studies (KOÇ-KAM), and the Gender and Women’s Studies Forum at Sabancı University.

In the symposium, the place of women photographers in the 21st century in the world of photography, their contributions and how the dominant view on photography was questioned from a gender perspective were discussed through a series of panels and roundtable discussions on war, women's body, violence, memory, and documentary and art photography.

The photo exhibitions, a parallel event of the symposium, were opened to visitors on November 29 at Sismanoglo Megaro, the Greek Consulate General's exhibition venue, on Istiklal Street. The photography exhibition "Semiha Es" was organized in the honor of Semiha Es, the first travel and war photographer of the Turkish press, aimed to demonstrate Semiha Es's contribution to the history of photography in Turkey, and the exhibition "Second Eye: Women Photographers from Turkey", displaying the work of 26 female photographers from Turkey, aimed to make visible the potential of female artists, who had created a significant knowledge and artistic richness in Turkey after 1980, to introduce women photographers who have been intense creating until today and women artists who use photography as an artistic way of expression, and to show their contributions to the subjectivation of photographic expression. The works included in the exhibitions curated by Ahu Antmen were compiled in a book.

The main sponsors of the symposium were Koç University, Sabancı University, Istanbul Women's Culture Foundation, Open Society Foundation and Chrest Foundation, and the promoters included the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul, Rafineri, Zarakol Communication Services, Borusan Holding, Leyla Alaton, Cezayir, Nomade Hotel, Crowne Plaza Harbiye, SIGMA fotopro, Yapı Kredi Bank Koç University Branch.