The pictures of the Leica M Ara Güler limited edition set I posted online few days ago were taken in the brand new Leica Store/Gallery/Akademie location in Istanbul that was just opened on October 5th, 2016. The new Leica location is 1100 m2 and is arguably the biggest Leica store in the world.
For Turkey, Leica Camera is in partnership with Doğuş Group. Additional pictures and full press release after the break:
DOĞUŞ GROUP BRINGS LEICA, THE LEGENDARY GERMAN CAMERA BRAND THAT HAS MADE ITS MARK ON THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY, TO TURKEY
Doğuş Group, promoting and contributing to the development of culture and arts, has entered into an important partnership with Leica Camera AG, which is one of the outstanding representatives of visual history for over one hundred years. As part of this partnership, Doğuş Group built a Leica complex consisting of a Leica store, gallery and academy in Istanbul. Doğuş Group presents traces from the history of photography that Leica has shaped and revolutionized since the 20th century, at Bomontiada, a landmark structure in Istanbul, aiming to contribute to the development of photography as an art and photographers in Turkey through this investment.
Doğuş Group has long been supporting the development of culture and arts in Turkey through numerous projects, platforms and initiatives including Doğuş Children’s Symphony Orchestra, D-Marin International Classical Music Festival, main sponsorship of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Sanata Bi Yer, and Ara Güler Museum of Photography. Doğuş Group has now partnered with Leica, a legend in the history of photography, for a new investment in Turkey. The recently opened Leica complex in Istanbul, which houses a Leica store, gallery and academy, is one of the largest Leica complexes in the world after Los Angeles and Frankfurt. Leica currently has over 200 stores worldwide, and the brand’s first store in the Middle East region is brought to Istanbul with this important initiative of Doğuş Group to the delight of photograph enthusiasts. Doğuş Group, which is the Turkish distributor of Leica that embodies tradition, excellence and innovation, aims at changing the purchasing habits of photography fans in Turkey through this partnership while planning to build a photography hub where local and international photographers will come together.
Oliver Kaltner: “The opening of the first Leica Store and Leica Galerie in Istanbul is founded on our strong partnership with Doğuş Group which will result into strengthening our position in Turkey as part of our ambitious global growth strategy”
“Istanbul is one of the most exciting cities in the world with a deep cultural bridge between tradition and the modern. We’re extremely excited about bringing in the heritage of Leica to create a new chapter in the future history of the brand. The opening of the first Leica Store and Leica Galerie in Istanbul is founded on our strong partnership with Doğuş Group, which will result in strengthening our position in Turkey as part of our ambitious global growth strategy. We are convinced that our craftsmanship principles, the exceptional precision that goes into the manufacturing of our products and the ‘Made in Germany’ quality seal, will fulfill the strongly growing customer demand in Turkey for uncompromising quality and premium brands with a long heritage of excellence”, says Oliver Kaltner, CEO of Leica Camera AG.
Hüsnü Akhan: “İstanbul Leica Complex will create a new market for photography enthusiasts in Turkey”
Speaking at the opening reception of Leica Istanbul, Doğuş Group CEO Hüsnü Akhan said that Doğuş Group has undertaken the second largest investment in photography in Turkey with the Leica Istanbul Complex. Akhan shared the following information: “As you may know, we recently announced that we broke ground for a Museum of Photography for Ara Güler, the acclaimed photographer known to be a leading Leica user. Now, with this partnership with Leica Camera AG, we have made one more contribution to the protection of the Turkish history of photography and training Turkish photographers of the future. Furthermore, photography collection is developing rapidly in the world. We at Doğuş Group are aiming to create a new market for photographers and collectors in Turkey with Leica. With this partnership with Leica Camera AG, one of the widest and the most prestigious photography hubs in the Middle East region is brought to life in Istanbul, Turkey. We at Doğuş Group always base our strategies in all of our investments on the principle of contributing to the economy while adding value to our community and country. Creating employment opportunities in Turkey, building globally respected brands and representing our country across the world through international partnerships are among our priority goals. We introduce some of the best brands to Turkey. As we have always done, we will strive to contribute to the economy through similar partnerships with this sense of mission, and continue to serve our country.”
Hüsnü Akhan: “Doğuş Group will help protect the history of photography and also play a leading role in training future photographers”
“Leica Istanbul Complex will give photography enthusiasts a chance to have direct access to Leica cameras and accessories, and play a unique role in communicating both the technical and also the artistic aspects of photography through exhibitions and lecture programs in international scale. We at Doğuş Group are bringing the special pictorial culture of Leica to Turkey by opening a Leica Galerie, which for decades now has offered both prominent Leica photographers and emerging new talents an opportunity to present their work to a wider audience. Besides, opening an international photography gallery in Istanbul will not only meet the need for an artistic photography gallery but will also add value to photographers as well as private galleries. In the long run, with Leica Galerie and Leica Akademie, we are also aiming at promoting Turkish artists in the international arena, encouraging collectors for photography, and ensuring that photography is perceived much more consciously in terms of technique and content. In addition to hosting globally acclaimed photographers, the Leica Galerie housed in Istanbul, Bomontiada, will also welcome Turkish photographers who produce internationally acknowledged works. In terms of training, we will proceed in line with international programs,” says Hüsnü Akhan, Doğuş Group CEO.
Spread on 1,000 square meters, Leica Store, Galerie and Akademie is opening at Bomontiada, the new cultural center of Istanbul
Built in Bomontiada, the new culture and arts hub of Istanbul, and spread on 1,000 square meters, Leica Istanbul Complex will house a store where Leica products will be sold, and will also be home to many firsts that will lead the development of photography in Turkey. At the complex, Leica will offer a complete experience to photography enthusiasts from buying and trying to training and exhibitions, along with opportunities for brand’s fans, new beginners, amateurs and photography professionals to get together.
Leica Galerie Istanbul will open with Alp Sime’s solo exhibition “Ceratonia” at Bomontiada
Alp Sime’s solo exhibition titled “Ceratonia” will feature a series created exclusively for Leica and also include a selection of the artist’s previous works. Sime’s powerful aesthetic language blends with an expression that refines the line between documentary and fiction. The exhibition will be open to visitors until December 3, 2016.
Moments captured by Leica lenses for 102 years
Leica’s first camera was constructed by Oskar Barnack in 1914. Production of 35 mm handcrafted cameras by Leica gave birth to a new era in photography and documenting history. Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the founders of the Magnum Photography Agency and a pioneer in street photography, once said, “Leica is an extension of my eyes,” emphasizing the significance of the brand in the history of photography.
The Leica Store, Galerie and Akademie is located at Bomontiada, Tarihi Bomonti Bira Fabrikası, Birahane Sokak No: 1 Bomonti, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
Opening hours are Tuesday-Sunday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm.
About Leica Camera AG
Leica Camera AG is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the construction of lenses and optical devices. And today, in combination with innovative technologies, Leica products continue to guarantee better pictures in all situations in the worlds of visualization and perception. Leica Camera AG has its headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, and a second factory located in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. Leica Camera AG is internationally represented by its branch offices in England, France, Japan, Singapore, China, Switzerland, South Korea, Italy, Australia and the USA. Innovative products have been the driving force behind the company’s positive development in recent years.
About Doğuş Group
Founded in 1951, Doğuş Group has since become one of the leading conglomerates in Turkey, owing its success to a management approach centered on customer satisfaction and efficiency. With over 290 companies and more than 50,000 employees, the Group serves its customers with advanced technologies, highest brand quality and a dynamic human resource. The Doğuş Group currently operates in eight key industries; finance, automotive, construction, media, tourism and service, property development, energy, and food & beverage. In addition to these industries, the Group continues to grow through new investments in technology, sports and entertainment. Aware of its responsibilities in all the areas it supports, Doğuş Group acts with the vision of leading the community and setting an example, and contributes to the economy and employment in the country through its investments. The Group also launches and carries out a variety of corporate social responsibility and sponsorship projects focused on culture and arts, sports and education in particular. Doğuş Group always aims at increasing the value of its brands, not only in Turkey but also in the region and in global scale.
