Collections
This page features galleries showcasing selections from different years.
Tacheles: Resistance at the Heart of Berlin
Berlin, 2012 Arts & Culture
Established in 1990 when artists and activists transformed it into a cultural space and opened it to international production, Tacheles became one of Berlin’s most prominent alternative cultural centers. Emerging in the aftermath of the fall of the Wall, it stood for years as a symbol of independent creation and counterculture.
However, after the building was taken over by HSH Nordbank due to outstanding claims, a wall approximately 2.5 meters high was erected through the middle of the structure, restricting access from Oranienburger Straße. This intervention physically divided the site in two.
Around 80 people working inside reacted to the decision. The group, which included Turkish participants, announced that they would continue their resistance through a crisis committee. Artists and supporters called for public backing against the closure of the 26,000-square-meter site.
At the time, Berlin was undergoing accelerated urban transformation, particularly in the Mitte district, increasing pressure on alternative cultural spaces. The events at Tacheles became one of the most visible examples of this shift.
Following the eviction in 2012, the building was completely cleared, marking the official end of the Tacheles era.
The wall erected at Tacheles marked not only the division of a building, but also a turning point that split Berlin’s memory of artistic freedom.
© Çiğdem Hızkan — Reporting & Photography
Syriac Orthodox Church Liturgy –
April 22, 2007 Faith & Community - İnanç ve Topluluk
Syriac Orthodox Church Liturgy – Berlin, 2007
At a Syriac Orthodox Church ceremony held in Berlin, the ordination of Abuna Murat Üzel as a priest marked a significant moment of faith and community.
During the ceremony on April 22, 2007, Üzel formally entered his spiritual ministry within the Syriac Orthodox tradition. In this tradition, priestly ordination represents not only a personal calling, but also a key ritual symbolizing the continuity of the community and the transmission of its religious heritage.
The liturgy was led by Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktaş, bringing together members of the Syriac community in Berlin as well as participants from different countries. Prayers, hymns, and rituals reflected a liturgical tradition that spans centuries.
The ceremony marked a turning point in Abuna Murat Üzel’s spiritual journey, while also highlighting the importance of such gatherings for diaspora communities in preserving and passing on their religious identity.
© Çiğdem Hızkan — Reporting & Photography
Angela Merkel & Nicolas Sarkozy
Berlin, Bundestag — 2007 Politics & Diplomacy
"Welcome to Berlin
French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Berlin within hours of taking office in Paris, marking his first official trip abroad. The swift visit underscored the importance Sarkozy attaches to Franco-German relations and the long-standing cooperation between the two countries.In Berlin, Sarkozy met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss key issues concerning the future of the European Union. The future of the European Constitution (Constitutional Treaty) was among the central topics of the meeting.
The visit was seen as one of the first signals of the direction the new French administration would take in its European policy. Sarkozy’s choice of Berlin as his first destination was widely interpreted as a strong message of continuity in Franco-German cooperation.
© Çiğdem Hızkan — Reporting & Photography
Fire of Anatolia - Troy
Berlin, 2008 Arts & Culture
In 2008, the Turkish dance company Anadolu Ateşi staged its powerful production “Troy” in Berlin.
Directed by Mustafa Erdoğan, the performance was part of an international tour and portrayed the mythological story of the Trojan War by blending traditional Turkish folk dances with ballet and modern dance elements. Performed by a large ensemble known for its synchronized movements and high energy, the show received widespread acclaim for its visual grandeur and its artistic interpretation of the epic.
© Çiğdem Hızkan — Reporting & Photography
Antalya, Kaş
Antalya, 2008 Travel & Landscape
Kaş is one of the quiet stops of the Blue Voyage, where every shade of blue meets the shore. Hidden between rocky cliffs, this small coastal town wakes to the gentle traces of boats drifting across the Mediterranean. Here, blue is not just a color, but a memory stretched across time.
© Çiğdem Hızkan — Reporting & Photography
