Istanbul Greeks exhibition ‘Istanbul, My Nostalgia’ continues in Ankara

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

‘Istanbul, My Nostalgia’ exhibition follows the traces of “Istanbul Rums,” living in Athens and Thessaloniki, who had to leave Istanbul in past times.

“Istanbul, My Nostalgia,” an exhibition depicting the reminiscences of Istanbul Greeks on their expatriation and homesickness, began at Museum Çankaya in Ankara on Sept. 2 following an opening ceremony.

The exhibition follows the traces of 47 “Istanbul Rums,” currently living in Athens and Thessaloniki, who had to leave Istanbul at different times and for different reasons. The exhibition includes a documentary screening, alongside panels presenting photographs of the immigrants’ stories. A book of the same name containing interviews with the expatriates is also available.

The exhibition, which was displayed initially at the Greek Consulate’s Istanbul cultural center two years ago, was organized by the Foundation of Lausanne Treaty Emigrants (LMV) with the support of the Istanbul European Cultural Capital 2010 Agency in cooperation with Çankaya Municipality.

During the opening ceremony of the event, the importance of enhancing cooperation and fellowship between the countries so as not to suffer from the same sorrows ever again was voiced.

The opening ceremony was conducted with the participation of the head of the Istanbul Rums Universal Federation, Nikolaos Uzunoğlu, who is an immigrant himself; Çankaya Mayor Bülent Tanık; the secretary-general of the LMV, Sefer Güvenç; LMV founding trustee Müfide Pekin; the minority foundations representative for the Directorate General of Foundations, Laki Vingas; Republican People’s Party (CHP) Ankara Deputy Gülsün Bilgehan, as well as the counselor at the Moldovan Embassy to Ankara, Tudor Goia.