Tahir Ün was born in Turkey. He has been working periodically at Xinjiang (Uighur) Autonomous Region of China, Balkans, Caucasia and Turkey as a freelance photographer, videographer, curator and activist. Tahir Ün is an instructor at Yasar University.
His works accepted to some collections such as Istanbul Modern Museum, Polaroid Collection, Collection of Ransom Center Photography at Texas University, Colección del Centro de Fotografía de Tenerife, State Museum of Majdenek and Rhizome Artbase.
Tahir Ün published four books titled “Imagined Views/Moments of Revulsion” Photographs (1990) and “The Poetic Introduction of Representation of the Hidden Photograph” Poems (1995), “Xinjiang : My Ancestral Land” photographs (2012) and “Ali” photographs (2014). In addition, his articles about image theory are published in various Turkish art magazines since 2000.
He is founder of VideoArt.Ist International Video Art Screening Program. His works have been displayed in numerous worldwide events including 29 one-man exhibitions.
Some important photo and video awards and distinctions:
- - Felix Schoeller German Peace Awards, my project "Under the Same Sky" was nominee, (2019) Osnabrück, Germany.
- - Archifoto International Architecture Photography Awards, 'Ä°zmir, no heritage for the future' is finalist, (2017) Strasbourg, France.
- - First prize in photography category of competition themed 'Xinjiang' by CRI (China Radio International), (2017) Urumchi, China.
- - "Father Tongue", my video, is awarded for "The Film With Most Profound Message" of Uhvati Film Festival in (2017) Novi Sad, Serbia
- - “Xinjiang: Re-Construction”, my project, was nominee for Photogrvphy Grant (2017), London, U.K.
- - Photo Annual Awards (PAA), First prize & special Prize Czech Center Photography, for "Camel Wrestling" (2015), Teplice, Czechia
- - Photo Annual Awards (PAA), Honorable Mention, “Snapshot vs Selfie” (2015), Teplice, Czechia .
- - Life Framer Photo Awards, Honorable Mention for “Animal Kingdom” (2015), U.K.
- - SCOPIO, Honorable Mention for “Xinjiang : Re-Construction”, (2015), LISBOA, Portugal.
- - Facade Videoart Festival, “THE GAME” is selected between TOP 10 Awards, (2014), Bulgaria.
- - Featured Photographer of the Month, Social Documentary Network (june, 2014), NY, USA.
- - FOTONIC Photo Festival, finalist of Evening Screenings Award, “Xinjiang:Re-Construction”, (2014), Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- - FOTONIC Photo Festival, finalist of Evening Screenings Award, “The Shift in Coal Mine”, (2014), Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- - Kolga Award, “Xinjiang:Re-construction” is finalist in the category: Conceptual Series (2014), Georgia.
- - Espy Photography Award, “Xinjiang:Re-construction” is finalist (2014), Swansea, Wales, U.K.
- - IPA Awards, “One Shot: One World”, honorable mention for “Architectural Conflict in Kashgar”, (2014) Los Angeles, USA
- - PAA (Photo Annual Awards), honorable mention for “China Portraits” (2013),Teplice, Czechia.
- - FotoVisura Grant, honorable mention for “Nakhchivan” (2013), USA.
- - Patras Independent Film & Video Festival, The Best VideoArt Prize for “Pose” (2012), Greece.
- - Krakow SnapFilm Festival, The 2nd. Prize for “Facial Perception” in category: Experimental (2012), Poland.
- - Fonland video and performance art festival, The Best Digital Image Prize for “Nihility or Identity” (2011), Coimbra, Portugal.
- - AFAD and Seyhan Municipality, The Sahin Kaygun Prize for “the best Turkish Photographer” (1993), Turkey.
- - Photo Awards of The Ministry of Culture, The First Prize for Black and White Photography (1992), Turkey.
- - Nasreddin Hodja International Photo Competition, 2nd. prize, (1988), Turkey.
Important selected solo & group shows
Also, you can see my moving image screenings on the videoart page.
2020
• "Under the Same Sky", Solo Exhibition, Gallery Diogenes, IZMIR.
2019
• "Under the Same Sky", Solo Exhibition, Fotografevi Art Gallery, ISTANBUL.
• Curated Group Exhibition,"Migrants: A Journey", West Gallery, LONDON.
• Loosenart Curated Group Exhibition, "Urban Lights", Millepiani, ROMA.
• Loosenart Curated Group Exhibition, "Urban Lights", Millepiani, ROMA.
2018
• The Curated Virtual Exhibition, "Constructs: Building Images with Instant Film", Analog Forever Magazine.
• "The Silk Road Dwellers", Solo Exhibition, National Photo Museum, BALIKESIR
• The 10th Anniversary Exhibition of the Social Documentary Network (SDN), Bronx Documentary Center, NY
• Archifoto 2017 Group Exhibition, Center Culturel Français Friborg, FREIBURG.
2017
• XIV.Fotonoviembre Int. Biennial “Atlantica Colectivas”, Espacio Tea, GARACHICO.
• "Silk Road Dwellers" Solo Exhibition, 7th International Ege Art Days, MOTBE Art Gallery, IZMIR.
• Mobile Photo Group Exhibition, Belgrad Photo Month, Ustanova kulture „Parobrod“, BELGRADE.
• "Silk Road Dwellers" Solo Exhibit, 7th International Ege Art Days, MOTBE Art Gallery, IZMIR.2016
• Main Festival Exhibition, "Xinjiang: Re-Construction", Odessa/Batumi Photo Days, TBC Bank Gallery, BATUMI• Curated Photo Exhibition, "People Attract People", Istanbul Modern Art Museum, ISTANBUL.
• Curated Photo Group Exhibition,"What does migration to you?", The Gallery on the Corner, LONDON.
2015
• 5th. Photo Annual Awards Exhibition, “Camel Wrestling”, TEPLICE.
• XIII.Fotonoviembre Int. Biennial “Atlantica Colectivas”, Centro Cultural de GUIA DE ISORA.
• PHODAR 9th. Photo Biennial Exhibition, “The Shift in Coal Mine”, Ilia Beshkov Art Gallery, PLEVEN.
• Kolga Photo Festival, “The best photos of the year” joint show , TBILISI.
• 4th. Scopio Photo Awards Exhibition, “Xinjiang:Re-Construction”, RIBA, LONDON.
2014
• BURSA FOTOFEST Exhibition, “Silk Road Dwellers”, BURSA.
• FOTONIC Photo Festival, Evening Screenings, “Xinjiang:Re-Construction” and “The Shift in Coal Mine”, LJUBLJANA.
• Kolga Photo Festival, “The best photos of the year” joint show , TBILISI.
• Espy Photography Award Exhibition, “Urban & Rural” joint exhibit, SWANSEA.
2013
• 5th. Photo Annual Awards Exhibition, “Camel Wrestling”, TEPLICE.
• XIII.Fotonoviembre Int. Biennial “Atlantica Colectivas”, Centro Cultural de GUIA DE ISORA.
• PHODAR 9th. Photo Biennial Exhibition, “The Shift in Coal Mine”, Ilia Beshkov Art Gallery, PLEVEN.
• Kolga Photo Festival, “The best photos of the year” joint show , TBILISI.
• 4th. Scopio Photo Awards Exhibition, “Xinjiang:Re-Construction”, RIBA, LONDON.
• BURSA FOTOFEST Exhibition, “Silk Road Dwellers”, BURSA.
• FOTONIC Photo Festival, Evening Screenings, “Xinjiang:Re-Construction” and “The Shift in Coal Mine”, LJUBLJANA.
• Kolga Photo Festival, “The best photos of the year” joint show , TBILISI.
• Espy Photography Award Exhibition, “Urban & Rural” joint exhibit, SWANSEA.
• “Xinjiang : My Ancestral Land” solo photo exhibition, Kara Gallery,ANKARA.
• ART SUR-FACES, digital image joint exhibition, Gallery Margarida de Araújo, SERPA.
• XII.Fotonoviembre Int. Biennial “Atlantica Colectivas”, Plaza González Mena, s/n, GRANADILLA.
• Festival Voies Off, “Romans:Glocal Alteration”, group photo show: “Rester Partir, le voyage impossible”, ARLES.
• “Xinjiang : My Ancestral Land” solo photo exhibition, Beyoglu Art Gallery, ISTANBUL.
• PHODAR 8th. Photo Biennial Exhibition, “Glocalization”, Ilia Beshkov Art Gallery, PLEVEN.
2012
• “Xinjiang : My Ancestral Land” solo photo exhibition, State Museum, IZMIR.
• 7th Berlin Biennale "Open Call & ArtWiki", Digital venue, DV• Im[m]agine, Objet d’art, SACS (Space of Contemporary-Experimental Art), Quiliano, SAVONA
• Copengagen Photo Festival, “Frederiksberg Photo Walk”,COPENHAGEN.
• Festiwal Sztuka i Dokumentacjai, “Sztuka-Obiekt-Zapis”, Galeria Imaginarium, LODZ.
• “Nylon Refuges”, solo photo exhibition, Cizgelikedi Culture Center Art Gallery, IZMIR.
2011
• “Turkish Photography Today”, joint exhibit, Photography Museum,ISTANBUL.
• Celeste Prize Final Exhibition, (as a guest artist) joint exhibit, Invisible Dog, Brooklyn, NEWYORK.
• XI.Fotonoviembre Int. Biennial “Atlantica Colectivas”, Centro Cultural Los Cristianos, ARONA.
• Backlight 9th. Photo Festival, “Nylon Refuges” solo exhibition, TR2Kunsthalle, TAMPERE.
• Les Rencontres d’Arles Photographie,”Transience” joint photo-exhibition, Galerie Huit, ARLES.
2010
• “We Are All Photographers of the Public Space!, joint show, Musée de l’Elysée, LAUSANNE.
2006
• “Memos for the passage” solo exhibit, Underground Photo Gallery, IISALMI.
2005
• “Nihility or Identity” solo exhibit, in the art programme of the 23rd. Universiade Olympic Games, IZMIR.
1998
• “Nihility or Identity” solo exhibit, The Lamp Gallery/ YORKSHIRE
• “Nihility or Identity” solo exhibit, Boekhandel De Verbeelding,AMSTERDAM.
• “Faces and Dreams” solo exhibit, Artlink Exchange Gallery,YORKSHIRE.
• “On the Road” joint exhibit, the on-line interactive imaging project by Cafe Society, YORKSHIRE.
1997
• IV.Fotonoviembre Int. Biannial “Interventions” joint exhibit, Cultural Center of The Christians, TENERIFE.
• “Menhir” Photo – Installation by Tahir Un Old Laundry of Yoruk Village, SAFRANBOLU.
1996
• Contemporary Turkish Photography” joint eshibit, HABITAT / Silahhane, Yildiz Palace, ISTANBUL.
1995
• “Faces and Dreams” solo exhibit, 3rd. Fotonoviembre Int. Biennial, La Caixa Galeria, LA LAGUANA.
• “Turkish Plastic Art Exhibitions” joint exhibit, Art Festival,HOUSTON
1994
• “Contemporary Art Photography by Turkish Photographers” joint exhibit, SANTA FE.
1993
• “Details From Life” solo exhibit, Akbank Art Gallery, ANKARA.
1992
• “Polaroids” solo exhibit, Arsiv Art Gallery, ISTANBUL.
• “Selections 6” by Polaroid, joint exhibit, FotoKino, COLOGNE.
1991
• “Turkish Photography, Today” joint exhibit, LINZ.
1990
• “Photographs 1980-1990” solo exhibit, Istanbul Photography Days, France Culture Center, ISTANBUL. • “Turkey, Ich Liebe Dich !” Mainzer Rathauses, joint exhibit, MAINZ.
1989
• “Imagined Views 2” solo exhibit, T. A. A. Hekimgil Art Gallery,ANKARA.
• “Turkish Photography in Republic Period” joint exhibit, Emlak Bank Art Gallery, ISTANBUL.
1988
• “Imagined Views 1” solo exhibit, Refo Photography Center,ISTANBUL.
• “ImaginedViews 1” solo exhibit, Turco – British Art Gallery,ANKARA.