Berg unveiled the exhibition on Thursday with a reception at the Marmara Hotel in Taksim Square. Berg's series, to remain on view until Oct. 25 in Taksim, includes the portraits of a number of Turkish celebrities such as fashion designer Cemil İpekçi, filmmaker-producer Sinan Çetin, actor and TV show host Okan Bayülgen and actress Nurgül Yeşilçay as well as those of ordinary people who posed for the New York-based Swedish photographer earlier this year at a studio on İstiklal Street.Berg's “One Shot” is a project made in collaboration with the public. The concept behind the project is that each portrait in the collection is taken with a large-format camera in just one frame, using one sheet of film and only one shot per subject. They are meant to capture, according to Berg, “the essence of personality when one is given the freedom to pose oneself, yet is defined by the limitation of time.”
The first “One Shot” project was carried out in New York City in 2006 in temporary studios on Times Square, and it produced over 800 portraits in around two months. The result, put on show at a store on Madison Avenue, was a panel of portraits, all shot in a manner envisioned by the featured individuals, and what they formed together was “a portrait of New York City,” according to the artist. In September 2007, Berg took his project to Beijing, where he was featured at the Dangdai International Art Festival. There he shot over 370 portraits to create his portrait of Beijing.
The “One Shot İstanbul” project is the third leg of Berg's trilogy of collective portraits from the West (New York City), the East (Beijing) and the point where the two meet (İstanbul).
The fourth Contemporary İstanbul art fair is scheduled for Dec. 3-6 at the Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center in Harbiye.
