Journey through history via items of daily life

The word “efemera” is not common in Turkish, but visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to learn its meaning: the items or documents that we use in our daily lives such as movie tickets, bills and prescriptions. The exhibition gives a glimpse into the history of İstanbul's Beyoğlu district over the past 155 years through these items.

The items on display, including postcards, tram tickets, photos, prescriptions, flyers and concert tickets, transport visitors to the past. One of these items is a concert poster for a performance by renowned Turkish singer Münir Nurettin Selçuk, dated March 22, 1963. Another poster invites people to the concert of soloists Niyazi Sayın and Rıza Rit, who were to perform under the baton of Selçuk.

There is a document that dates back to the 1920s when the Pera Palace Hotel was called the Pera Palace Hotel de Constantinople. An advertisement for the first optician in Beyoğlu, Emgen Optik, as well as his prescriptions can also be seen.

The exhibit offers a view of an earlier period in Beyoğlu through the items of daily life. Viewers will also get the chance to witness the changes that took place in the iconic İstanbul area.

The exhibition, curated by Beste Gürsu, will run at the Beyoğlu Art Gallery until Aug. 25.