Courtyard Window (Wish you were here)

A view of the Topkapi Palace courtyard, as seen through the windows of the Haremlik, where the Sultan's concubines reside.

In this seemingly idyllic scene, the audience is placed in a gilded cage, much like the Sultan's concubines throughout the history of the Ottoman Empire (something modern Turkish education refuses to dwell on). As a dedicated architectural space, and as a practice, the Haremlik is a fascinating exception to the conservative Islamic values of the Ottoman Empire.

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.

Courtyard Window (Wish you were here), 2021 Dimensions: 5333x3000 pixels Unique Edition with Artist's Proof Series: Curse of the Forever Sultan