Ergun Çağatay's Turkish-German Life Photo Series at MEK

In Berlin, the Museum Europäischer Kulturen (MEK) is showcasing 3,500 photographs by Ergun Çağatay (1937–2018), an Istanbul native, taken in the early 1990s across multiple German cities. These photographs capture the experiences of Turkish migrant workers from the first and second generations, reflecting their integration into society amidst the political turmoil of that era. The exhibition, which commenced in summer 2022, is accompanied by a magazine titled "Wir sind hier," overseen by Michelle Müntefering, Minister of State for International Cultural Policy, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the German-Turkish recruitment agreement. Edited by Dr. Alexandra Nocke, the 72-page publication includes contributions from various writers and photographers. The project is supported by the German Foreign Office and the RAG Foundation, with texts in both German and partially Turkish. Collaboration for the exhibition involves the Ruhr Museum, Essen; the Goethe-Institut, Istanbul; the Museum for Hamburg History; and the Museum Europäischer Kulturen.