REFENGLISH

TÜRKIYE
A secular republic under the shadow of the minaret.

"Rpnunyez is not a photographer who seeks artifice or pleasant postcards. A man of science and an atheist, he has decided to explore the most uncertain terrain in this book, capturing with his camera what underlies, what beats at the heart of the human experience. His images are not mere snapshots, but visual explorations of universal truths that challenge us all."

“This book is not merely a journey through Türkiye; it is, above all, a journey into the human condition, probing that part of ourselves that seeks meaning, and wonders at beauty, faith, and mystery. Throughout this odyssey, Rpnunyez’s gaze guides us with both respect and resolve, reminding us that true photography does not freeze time: it renders it eternal.”

Mayte Muro. Editor-in-Chief . SYMART MAGAZINE. Spain

“Rpnunyez is a photographer who approaches his subjects with honesty and integrity. What remains with me is not merely the photographs themselves, but the values that underpin them. They encourage us to look closely, to think critically, and to recognise ourselves in the lives of others. He is guided by the conviction that a photograph should neither extract nor reduce, but rather allow the presence of another to be seen.”

“Türkiye Volume I is not only a portrait of a country but also a reflection on how societies live with complexity, negotiating between past and present, belief and secularism, continuity and change. In these pages, Türkiye appears both singular in its particulars and universal in its questions, reminding us that the truths of a nation are inseparable from the lives of its people.”

Melanie Meggs. Cofounder and Creative Director. THE PICTORIAL LIST. Australia

"The work TÜRKIYE: A secular republic under the shadow of the minaret by Rpnunyez stands out for its original approach, merging documentary photography with profound philosophical reflection.

It is a work that is not merely a book, but a window into the soul of a nation and the very essence of humanity.

His visual style is complemented by texts that provide significant conceptual depth and immersion."

“In this photographic project, Rpnunyez invites us to take an intimate and reflective plunge into the complex identity of Türkiye, a country marked by the duality of the radical secularism promoted by M. K. Atatürk and its deep Islamic roots. Far from being a tourist postcard, the work offers a philosophical and existential dimension that transcends classic documentary photography, through an honest, non-judgmental perspective, far removed from the most predatory photojournalism and in line with the humanism of the Magnum agency.”

“This work is one of extraordinary maturity and depth. Rpnunyez has succeeded in far transcending the boundaries of the conventional photobook to deliver a profound visual essay of great intellectual weight and immense human sensitivity. The work is notable for the coherence between its thematic ambition, the authenticity of its narrative voice, and the exceptional quality of its photographic vision. It is a book that informs, moves and, above all, invites critical reflection on universal concepts such as identity, faith, and memory.”

“The book makes a conscious departure from the traditional travelogue. The author’s manifesto—'I do not photograph what I see, but what I am'—defines a phenomenological approach to photography. It is not a matter of describing a place, but of immersing oneself within it, capturing a 'shared human experience'. This perspective imbues the work with a philosophical and existential dimension that transcends classical documentary photography.”

“Rpnunyez’s prose is clear, precise, and possesses a remarkable evocative power. One of its greatest merits is the seamless ease with which he shifts between registers. He moves effortlessly from an informative, almost academic tone—when presenting historical data on Atatürk’s reforms or the antiquity of Göbekli Tepe—to a lyrical and sensory register when depicting scenes of daily life.”

"In comparison with Orhan Pamuk’s Istanbul: Memories and the City, Rpnunyez’s work shares a deep exploration of the city’s psyche, unveiling the East–West duality and historical melancholy. However, while Pamuk offers an introspective, literary vision from a native perspective, Rpnunyez utilises photography for a direct, external analysis, focusing on the visual manifestation of secular–religious tensions through its inhabitants and landscapes."

"Another point of reference is Jeremy Seal’s A Fez of the Heart: Travels Around Turkey in Search of a Hat. Both works address Turkish identity and the legacy of Atatürk’s reforms. Seal uses the fez as a cultural thread to narrate a personal journey and the struggle between tradition and modernity. Rpnunyez, by contrast, constructs a photographic narrative that displays the contemporary reality of the secular–religious dichotomy across various locations, addressing the human experience from a universalist perspective."

"When compared with Istanbul by the legendary photographer Ara Güler, a generic similarity is observed, as both are works of documentary photography focused on Türkiye. Güler, with his timeless style, immortalised the daily life of Istanbul with an intimate and artistic gaze.

Rpnunyez, while sharing this visual mastery, presents a more explicit thematic purpose: to analyse the coexistence of secularism and Islam. His approach does not merely document, but seeks to challenge the viewer regarding universal truths, moving away from Güler’s role as a visual chronicler towards that of a reflective humanist."

"Finally, Louis de Bernières’ Birds Without Wings, although historical fiction, provides invaluable context regarding the birth of the secular republic and the religious conflicts that Rpnunyez documents in their current state. De Bernières constructs a world of characters living through these transformations.

Rpnunyez, for his part, visualises the present-day consequences of those foundational tensions, transforming historical conflict into a present and tangible observation. His original contribution lies in this honest and non-judgemental gaze, from his perspective as a “man of science and an atheist”, capturing the essence of a nation that is not merely explained but lived to the full, with a formal and intellectual commitment that makes the experience eternal."

José María Jiménez. Editor. Grupo Planeta BACK | MORE REFERENCES