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Introduction

Ci Demi is an Istanbul-based photographer exploring the psychogeography of the city.

Available for assignments.

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Biography

Ci Demi (he/him — b. 1986, Istanbul, Türkiye) is an Istanbulite photographer. He studied Italian Literature at Istanbul University. At 28, he discovered photography.

His photographs have been featured in prominent publications like Foam Magazine and the British Journal of Photography. Demi's work has been showcased at renowned festivals and venues, including Les Rencontres d'Arles, Pera Museum in Istanbul, and Mudec in Milan.

In 2022, his series “Unutursan Darılmam” (No Offence If You Forget, 2018—2024) was selected as the winner of Discovery Awards at Encontros da Imagem photography festival.

Onagöre published Demi's debut photobook, “Şehir Fikri” (Notion of a City, December 2022), an eerie portrayal of Istanbul marked by the absence of people, animals, and language. Inspired by Georges Perec's oulipo novel “La Disparition” (A Void, 1969), the book focuses on the city's haunting essence.

His personal work investigates the psychogeography of his city, merging intimate narratives of the landscape with his own lived experiences. While he adopts a documentarian approach to his images, ensuring they are always unstaged, his use of colour to convey a “quiet tension” is prominent in his work.

He is a documentary photographer whose work is frequently featured in publications such as the Financial Times, Der Spiegel, and Die Zeit.

He is represented by Şule Gazioğlu Gallery (Istanbul/London). Selected images of his work can be licensed via Connected Archives (Worldwide). He is an affilite of PLATFORM by GAPO.

Selected clients

Publications

Kinfolk
V&A Magazine
FAZ
Elle Italia
Libération
Geo
Harvard Business Manager
Zeit Online
Aposto
Harper’s Bazaar Italia
11Freunde
Der Spiegel
Society
Financial Times
The New York Times
Zeit Magazin
Die Zeit
Kaos GL
Altyazı
Frankie Magazine

NGOs

Textile Exchange
Community Jameel (Lopka Campaign, 2026)
Climavore x Jameel at RCA (Water Buffalo Festival Campaign, 2025—2026)
Better Shelter (What Makes a Home Campaign, 2024)

Music

Salon İKSV
Zorlu PSM
Simge Pınar
Deniz Tekin
Sofar Sounds Istanbul (2015—2018)

Others

Cultureshock
Winston Taylor
484 Production
Urban Istanbul
Reflect Studio

Curriculum vitae

Books

2022 Şehir Fikri (Notion of a City, Onagöre)

Awards

2025 Winner, Fondazione Capri: the Festival of Photography in Capri (17th edition)
2022 Winner, Discovery Awards, Encontros da Imagem

Nominations

2024 Prix Pictet: Storm (2025)
2024 C/O Berlin Talent Award 2025
2024 Joop Swart Masterclass
2022 Leica Oskar Barnack Award

Shortlists

2026 The Hopper Prize
2026 Booooooom Art & Photo Book Award
2026 Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award
2026 Athens Photo Festival
2025 OD Photo Prize
2025 InCadaqués Photo Festival
2025 Verzasca Foto Festival Awards
2025 Images Vevey Book Award 2025-26
2024 Dear Dave, Fellowship
2023 Foam Talent Call 2024-25
2023 Belfast Photo Festival

Grants

2018 SAHA, Travel grant for Les Rencontres d’Arles

Teaching

2023 Istanbul in My Lens: Photographing the City, Workshop and portfolio review, Pera Museum

Selected exhibitions

2026

Aynı Şehirde (In the Same City) / Offgrid Art Project / Istanbul, Türkiye / Trio
Photo London 2026 with Şule Gazioğlu Gallery / London, United Kingdom / Solo, Fair
100 Fotografie per ereditare il mondo (100 Photographs to Inherit the World) / Mudec (Museo delle Culture di Milano) / Milan, Italy / Curated by Denis Curti, in collaboration with Alessio Fusi & Alessandro Curti / Group

2025

OD Photo Prize ‘25 / Open Doors Gallery / London, UK / Group
InCadaqués Photo Festival / Cadaqués, Spain / Group, Festival
Unutursan Darılmam (No Offence If You Forget) / Festival of Photography in Capri (17th edition), La storia siamo noi / La Certosa di San Giacomo di Capri, Capri, Italy / Curated by Denis Curti / Duo, Festival
Verzasca Foto Festival, Notte della Fotografia / Ticino, Switzerland / Group, Festival

2024

What Makes a Home / Ideal Glass Studios / New York City, USA / In collaboration with Better Shelter / Group
Italo Calvino 100+1 Yaşında! (Italo Calvino Is 100+1 Years Old!) / Kıraathane / Istanbul, Türkiye / Curated by Bilge Bal & Sevil Enginsoy Ekinci / Group

2023

Love, Peace, and Harmony / ArtIstanbul Feshane / Istanbul, Türkiye / Curated by Bengü Gün / Group
Manzaradan Öte (Beyond the Landscape) / Mixer / Istanbul, Türkiye / Duo

2022

2022—2023 Zamane İstanbulları (Istanbuls Today) / Pera Museum (catalogue) / Istanbul, Türkiye / Curated by Refik Akyüz & Serdar Darendeliler / Group
Unutursan Darılmam (No Offence If You Forget) / Mamut Art Project / Istanbul, Türkiye / Solo, Fair
Unutursan Darılmam (No Offence If You Forget) / Encontros da Imagem / Braga, Portugal / Solo, Festival

2018

A Pillar of Smoke / Jimei x Arles International Photography Festival / Xiamen, China / Group, Festival
A Pillar of Smoke / Galerie Paris-B / Paris, France / Group
A Pillar of Smoke / Les Rencontres d’Arles / Arles, France / Curated by Ilgın Deniz Akseloğlu & Yann Perreau / Group, Festival

Selected press

Ci Demi Photographer, Istanbul Email

Life Finds a Way

Winds Between Us

Quiet Spring

Something Is Amiss

Notion of a City Unutursan Darılmam

Will the World End in the Daytime

Information Tearsheets Updates

Ci Demi
Photographer, Istanbul
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Notion of a City
Unutursan Darılmam

Information
Tearsheets
Updates