The Ayvalık–Istanbul exhibition, brought to life as a result of a collaboration between the Ara Güler Museum and the Municipality of Ayvalık, brought together a total of 36 photographs. The selection included lesser-known or previously unpublished photographs of Ayvalık by Ara Güler, as well as color photographs of the city of Istanbul, with which the photographer is synonymous with.

Ayvalık was a place where Ara Güler spent many summers over the years, both vacationing and continuing his work. He wrote there one of his most important reportage texts, recounting his journey to the village of Geyre - now registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Aphrodisias Archaeological Site. It was also in Ayvalık that he wrote the stories published in the book Yeryüzünde Yedi İz, describing how he photographed portraits of Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, and Bertrand Russell.

The photographs in the exhibition, featuring landscapes from Ayvalık and its surroundings, bear witness to the years Ara Güler spent in the region.

“Ayvalık–Istanbul” was on view from 19 October to 19 November 2023 at the Ayvalık Kırlangıç Yaşam Merkezi.