Gates of Hell (Left)

When the Sultan sold his soul in 1919, he didn't sell it to the Devil. There are things that lurk in the dark of the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, far more ancient and malevolent than can be imagined. They come through a portal made of geometric strands of light, somewhere between the thousand columns of the Cistern.

The Gates of Hell only appear when they sense the presence of someone desperate enough to strike a bargain with Hell.

The two sides of the Gates of Hell are intended to be presented together.

Growing up in Istanbul, where I often found myself bombarded with a reinvented, politically convenient version of Ottoman Empire's history, I decided to reimagine the past century as well.

I created a story where, after losing World War 1, the Sultan sells his soul in exchange for an immortal army. These images tell the stories of what came after.

Gates of Hell (Left), 2020 Dimensions: 6342x3000 pixels Unique Edition with Artist's Proof Series: Curse of the Forever Sultan