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ANKARA: Exhibition Reflects Dark Period Of Anatolian History

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  • ANKARA: Exhibition Reflects Dark Period Of Anatolian History

    EXHIBITION REFLECTS DARK PERIOD OF ANATOLIAN HISTORY

    Hurriyet, Turkey
    April 29 2013

    by Vercihan Zifliošlu
    ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News

    Istanbul's Tutun Deposu presents a new exhibition featuring life in
    Anatolian society in the 19th century, as seen by the cameras of the
    Dildilian brothers

    The photograph archive of the Dildilian brothers, who documented the
    social life of Anatolia during the 19th century with their cameras,
    was brought from the US to Turkey thanks to the efforts of their
    grandchildren Armen Tsolag Marsoobian and Tsolag Dildilian.

    In their archive, the grandchildren have preserved over 800 pieces
    by the Dildilian brothers, who made many contributions to various
    outstanding archives of the world. Armen Marsoobian is planning to
    open a museum with the archive photos in the Black Sea province of
    Amasya's Merzifon district. The exhibition, entitled "Bearing Witness
    to the Lost History of an Armenian Family: Through the Lens of the
    Dildilian Brothers," will be displayed at the Tutun Deposu (Tobacco
    Depot) in Istanbul's Tophane district until June 8.

    Moving to Merzifon

    The exhibition will also be presented in Merzifon. Armen Marsoobian, a
    professor of philosophy at Columbia University and Southern Connecticut
    State University, said the photos reflected Anatolian history, adding
    that their family came originally from the central Anatolian province
    of Sivas.

    "Our great grandfather used to have a shoe factory in Sivas. Our
    uncles encouraged our grandfather when they discovered his ability in
    photography. The Dildilian brothers opened photo studios in Samsun,
    Konya, Merzifon and Adana along with Sivas. They photographed the
    social life of that period in addition to studio photography,"
    Marsoobian said.

    Marsoobian said the life of his family in Anatolia was interrupted in
    1922, adding that he first came to Turkey a few years ago and visited
    the home belonging to his family in Merzifon. "On my first visit,
    I felt rather uneasy. I also headed to Merzifon and visited a house
    where my family once lived. I stayed there for an hour," he said.

    Stating that he felt at home in Anatolia, Marsoobian said he was
    planning to open a museum in Merzifon with the photos in his archive.

    "There is a historic house [in Merzifon]. I want to restore it and want
    to bring the photos back to the county where they were originated. I
    actually wanted to do such a project in Sivas; but it seems not to
    be possible for now," Marsoobian said.

    Forgotten History of Anatolia

    When asked the reason why they wanted to display their archives in
    Turkey, Marsoobian said, "A century ago, there was a rich cultural
    past in these territories. We wanted to shed light on the forgotten
    history of the 19th century with these photos. If we had not been
    forced to leave this territory, Anatolia would be much richer today,"
    Marsoobian said.

    Marsoobian said various Armenian and Greek photographers of that
    period, such as the Dildilian brothers and Abdullah brothers, captured
    the 19th century Ottoman lifestyle with their cameras. Marsoobian said
    his archive in the US covers more than 800 photos shot in different
    Anatolian cities, adding that he spent a major part of his time on
    sorting out the pieces in the archive over the last five years.

    April/29/2013

    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/exhibition-reflects-dark-period-of-anatolian-history.aspx?pageID=238&nID=45807&NewsCatID=385

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