Sami Solmaz is an award-winning Kurdish photographer, filmmaker and author. He was born in 1963 in Diyarbakır, Turkey and started photography in 1984 when he was 21. His work and writings have been featured in prominent news magazines such as Newsweek, and major Turkish publications such as the Republic (Cumhuriyet), Agenda (Gündem), and Black&White (Siyah&Beyaz), among many others.
In 1993 Solmaz took an interest in the Middle East and travelled to many countries and territories to document and narrate the stories of oppressed individuals, whilst researching the impacts of war and religion on local communities. His work during this time includes books, exhibitions, films and documentaries.
ABOUT
Work
Completed:
In progress
Awards:
Exhibitions:
-
His book “Those Who Don't Worship Fire”, which is about Zoroasters, was published in 2004 as a result of his journey in Iran between the years 1995 and 2000.
-
He produced the documentary “The Witnesses of the War” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2013 Barcelona Film Festival, inspired by his experiences while working with Newsweek magazine in 2008.
-
He has been making photographic and video interviews in the Middle East and North Africa for the American Sephardic Federation since 2014.
-
“Beyond the Visible” is a photograph series that consists of what he experienced and witnessed in Israel to which he has travelled multiple times.
Currently, he is working on a number of projects which can be highlighted below:
-
The documentary “74th Massacre” tells the story of the Genocide of Yazidis by the Islamists in 2017.
-
A documentary featuring Heinz Kunio, a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II when he was 13 years old.
-
A documentary about the water crisis in Mesopotamia (The Gulf of İran and a specific territory in Turkey) and the impact of dams, aridity and pollution on the people and the natural habitats of the region.
2003 - “Those Who Don't Worship Fire” exhibition in the Photography House.
2004 - “From the Fisheye” exhibition in Gallery Artist.
2007 - “From Dusk to Town” exhibition in Galata Naya Art Gallery.
2008 - “Sign of the Year” exhibition in the Foundation of Photography.
2008 - “Disregarded” exhibition in Karşı Sanat and Büyükada Adaevi Gallery.
2012 - “Islanders” exhibition in Sismanoglu Megaro Cultural Center. (Greek Consulate, Istanbul)
2021 - “Beyond The Visible’’ exhibition in Khan Art Gallery.