The people and cultures of Pakistan and Turkey meet at solo photography exhibition of Erkut Onart titled “Turkey and Pakistan - two nations bonded by faith, culture and brotherhood” at Alliance Française de Karachi. Karachiites took the opportunity to discover people, architecture and landscapes of Turkey as well as Pakistan through the lens of Erkut Onart’s camera. The current exhibition showcased diverse photographs covering many different areas and subjects of life from high mountains to common people in a street of both countries.
The colourful photographs depicting the richness, diversity and tolerance of Turkey help people understand the culture and lifestyle of Turkey. At the same time the photographs of Pakistani people and places were on display side by side to create semblance and help viewers understand the synchronizing aspects of both countries in various social norms.
It was Erkut Onart’s third exhibition of photographs, which included various scenic and cultural images from both the countries. Turkey is the homeland of photographer Erkut Onart, who is a former diplomat and the father of Consul General of Turkey Murat M. Onart.
Being a diplomat in Pakistan he availed the chance to discover Pakistan and captured its beauty and culture in his photographs just like his homeland. During photography at many different moments he felt similarities between the cultures and lifestyles of both countries and he decided to display both the countries culture and life for people to admire and understand.
While going through various cities streets and lanes he has the opportunity to take photos of environment, people and shades of different cultures. His photographs shared emotional moments as well as quiet ones. His photos were a glimpse of everyday life going on in a city.
The show expressed a lot about everyday life of ordinary people. Erkut Onart tried to revive a sense of appreciation for the commonplace by some of the snapshots. The show included photographs of historical old buildings, streets, and people busy in their daily chores, architectural sites, beautiful vegetation, musical instruments and musicians. Thus he touched things of everybody’s interest – a day-to-day activity, that occur in a routine on daily basis.
While going through the exhibition I realized that light seemed to inspire him as most of the photographs were taken during daytime. He was drawn to architecture often statues, trees, things that are quite still. Sometimes the pictures depicted nostalgia. As if they were meant to remember the moments afterwards, to recall a person, place or past event in future.
After retiring in 2002 he began travelling as a hobby and during his travels he exercised his passion of photography. He walked around the cities and snapped pictures but his collection was selective. Each photo has a story of its own. His passion for photography begins in 1950s since than he is practicing photography. His photographs depicting the beauties of nature, the colours of diverse cultures and the details of everyday life has been exhibited all over the globe.
Overall the exhibition was quiet compelling. People enjoyed the exhibition as such activities strengthen the ties of the two countries. The exhibition was in connection with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
—Nadeem Zuberi
