'Truth is the Best Picture': Robert Capa explored in compelling new show at Ara Güler Museum

Located in Yapı Kredi Bomontiada, a former brewery built in the late 19th century in the heart of Istanbul, the Ara Güler Museum stands out as one of the most important centres for contemporary photography in Turkey.
Its latest exhibition, Robert Capa - Truth is the Best Picture, proves the point, showcasing the work of one of the 20th century's most important photojournalists.
The show takes its name from a quote of Capa's that reflects his photographic philosophy: 'raw, real and grounded in truth.'
In addition to some of Capa's most famous images, the exhibition also includes a special selection of 37 images he took while travelling in Turkey in 1946.
Robert Capa is not only celebrated for his work as a war correspondent, but also as one of the pioneers who transformed photography into an immortal art form. His photographs still resonate, retaining all their emotional power to touch people's hearts and reflect our vulnerability.
Istvan Viragvölgyi, director of the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Centre, told Euronews Turkish: "Last year we hosted an exhibition by Ara Güler in Budapest, which was part of the Turkey - Hungary cultural year. And now Budapest-born Robert Capa is coming back to the Ara Güler Museum. So I think this is a really nice, two-way co-operation."
"Ara Güler and Robert Capa share a lot of things in terms of their view of the world and their values. So I think it's a very good match, and the fact that it's Ara Güler's first major exhibition in Hungary and then Robert Capa's first major exhibition in Turkey and in Istanbul is a really good coincidence. We are very happy about this," he said.
Focusing on different human landscapes from all walks of life from Ara Güler's archive, the 'On Life' exhibition was shown at the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Centre in Budapest as part of last year's cultural initiative. The exhibition featured the photographs of three masters of photography, Robert Capa, André Kertész and Ara Güler, under the same roof.
This Istanbul exhibition presents a comprehensive selection of Capa's pivotal photographs, starting with his first professional work as a photojournalist in 1932, documenting Leon Trotsky's speech in Copenhagen, and ending with the last photographs he took in Indochina just before his tragic and premature death in 1954.
As a historically significant visual archive, these photographs, taken as a whole, demonstrate Capa's mastery of visual expression and reveal the birth and development of a photographer from Endre Friedmann to Robert Capa.
The exhibition also includes a special section dedicated to 37 silver gelatin prints of photographs taken by Capa during his trip to Turkey in 1946, 80 years ago.
He was commissioned to direct a documentary film introducing Turkey for the 'March of Time' newsreel series. During his visit, Capa photographed various subjects ranging from Istanbul daily life to the modern architecture of Ankara, from rural landscapes to portraits.
Robert Capa - Truth is the Best Picture is on until 22 March 2026 at the Ara Güler Museum, in collaboration with Hungary's Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center in Budapest and supported by the Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Centre.
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