In cooperation with the world-famous photo agency Magnum Photos and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the photo exhibition “Human Rights: The Haves and Have Nots” was opened to visitors on 10 December 2024 at Istanbul Bulgur Palas.
The exhibition, which has a strong human rights theme, looks at world history through more than 200 photographs from the agency’s archive, as seen through the lenses of Magnum photographers from many parts of the world. Through the exhibition, curated by Emin Özmen, a Turkish member of Magnum, Magnum claims that the photographs will serve as documents in a possible new public debate on the meaning of human rights in the 21st century.
The exhibition focuses on the 77 years since the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, referring to thirty articles of the declaration and including photographs deemed appropriate for each article. It aims to raise the question, “What are human beings, and what are they entitled to?” and improve the understanding of the universality, protection, and violations of human rights.
The exhibition aims to engage a broader audience, particularly younger generations. However, despite its intention to promote dialogue on human rights, it falls short of bridging the gap between documentation and action, ultimately reinforcing a narrative of victimhood rather than empowerment.
