Ci Demi

Personal: Unutursan Darılmam

In 2019, Istanbul-based photographer Ci Demi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and left his home only ten times in 12 months. In an attempt to regain his mental health, and rediscover his relationship with the city, Demi began the series Unutursan Darılmam (translated as I Won’t Be Upset If You Forget Me). It’s been an ongoing project ever since, with Demi seeking out and capturing the quiet yet colourful corners of Istanbul.

A hint of loneliness lingers in Demi’s recent additions to the series, with sinking boats, empty chairs, and solitary figures adding an underlying feeling of sadness, but there’s a sense that the buzz of the city is never far away, spotted in the distance, or just out of sight beyond the lens.

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