Untitled Series
“Inability to tolerate empty space limits the amount of space available.“ – W.R. Bion
A city is a vibrant, living collage, rather than a group of settlements — a complex tapestry of human lives woven together in shared spaces. In Istanbul, a city spanning two continents, this tapestry becomes chaotic, alive with cultural undercurrents and historical weight. For those who dwell within it, political and economic forces are a daily tide, while for visitors, Istanbul’s allure lies in its layered geography and storied past. Yet beneath these surfaces, a tension persists—a pull between the vastness of space and the weight of occupation.
This project emerges as a quiet act of defiance against the relentless momentum of urban life. Through photography, it seeks a reprieve, capturing fleeting moments of solitude. The ferry offers a transient sanctuary, a suspended interval where one can drift, even if only for a moment, beyond the city’s grasp.
These photographs were taken during one such journey, capturing the elusive space that exists between here and there, presence and absence.
And so, this work remains a quiet appeal: a request for space, a reminder of the expanses we so seldom find in the everyday press of life.
And perhaps, to echo once more: a breath of space, just a whisper, would feel like release.
2009
Çağdaş Biber 