More — Ci Demi

Call me Ci. I was born in Beyoğlu, Istanbul on July 6th, 1986. I studied Italian Language and Literature at Istanbul University. Following that, I worked for advertising agencies as a copywriter and creative director for many years. I was 28 when I discovered visual storytelling. I did music photography and photojournalism for a while, then I decided to devote my time solely to my own stories.

My work is focused on Istanbul and its personal psychogeography. Adopting documentary as a secondary function, I tell stories using the scenes of my city. My distinct colour palette is a derivation of the look of Italian giallos from the ‘70s, and I take cues from the cinematography of classic horror films in my visual language. All of my photographs take place in the daytime.

More about my work

Favourites

Fujifilm X70 (2016)
Suspiria (1977)
Cat’s Cradle (1963)
The Smiths (1984)

Timeline of the far future

Information

Awards

2022 Winner, Discovery Awards, Encontros da Imagem

Nominations

2024 Nominee, Joop Swart Masterclass
2022 Nominee, Leica Oskar Barnack Award

Shortlists

2023 Shortlist, Foam Talent Call 2024-25
2023 Shortlist, Belfast Photo Festival
2021 Shortlist, 212 Photography Istanbul

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

Press: Highlights

Nowness (Video-essay, 2024)

DPReview (Interview, 2023)

Foam Magazine (Feature, Print, 2023)
Turkey Book Talk (Podcast, 2023)

Creative Review (Photography Annual, Feature, Print, 2022)
British Journal of Photography (Feature, Print, 2022)
Booooooom (Feature, 2022)
WePresent (Profile, 2022)

Press: Interviews

Onagöre Blog (Söyleşi, 2023)
Hyperallergic (Interview, 2023)
ArtDog Istanbul (Söyleşi, Print, 2023)
Calling #2 (Söyleşi, 2022)
Maviblau (Interview, 2022)
Yerden Yüksek (Açık Radyo, Söyleşi, 2022)
Calling (Söyleşi, 2022)
Bant Mag (Söyleşi, 2022)
212 Studio (Instagram Interview, 2022)
ERRR Magazine (Interview, 2022)
Anywhere Blvd (Interview, 2022)
Urbanautica (Interview, 2022)
allcitiesarebeautiful (Interview, 2022)
Fotoğraf Konuşmaları (Podcast, 2021)
Kaleydoskop (Interview, 2021)
Trendland (Interview, 2021)
VSCO (Interview, 2019)

Press: Others

photo-letter (Feature, 2024)
Adventure.com (Article, 2023)
Cargo (Feature, 2023)
revue EPIC (Feature, Print, 2023)
Safelight Paper (Feature, 2023)
Pera Museum Blog (Story, 2023)
Switch Magazine (Feature, Print, 2023)
Decalogue Magazine (Feature, 2022)

Der Grief (Feature, 2022)
Art Unlimited (Editorial, 2022)
Fisheye Magazine (Feature, 2022)
Bir Kare Bir Anlam (TRT 2, Documentary, Episode 13 & 17, 2022)
Broad Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Ain’t Bad (Feature, 2021)
C41 Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Subjectively Objective (Feature, 2021)
this isn’t happiness (Feature, 2021)
Istanbul Art News (Feature, Print, 2019)
Fabrika Zine (Feature, Print, 2018)
L'Œil de la Photographie (Feature, 2017)
GUP Magazine (Feature, 2017)

Mentions

Yogurt Magazine (Instagram Feature, 2022)
The Museum of Modern Art (Instagram Feature, 2022)

Nowness Asia (Instagram Feature, 2021)

Noice Magazine (Instagram Feature, 2021)
AnOther Magazine (Instagram Feature, 2021)

Clients: Publications

Harper’s Bazaar Italia (Licensing, 2024)
11Freunde (Editorial, 2024)
Der Spiegel (Editorial, 2024)
Society (Editorial, 2023)
Financial Times (Editorial, 2023)
The New York Times (Editorial, 2023)

Zeit Magazin (Editorial, 2023)
Die Zeit (Editorial, 2023)
Kaos GL (Cover, 2023)

Altyazı (Editorial, 2022)

Frankie Magazine (Editorial, 2022)

Clients: Music

Zorlu PSM (Editorial, 2018)
Simge Pınar (Single Cover, Editorial, 2018)
Deniz Tekin (Editorial, 2017)
Sofar Sounds (Editorial, 2015 - 2018)

Other Clients

Première Vision (Commercial, 2023)

Reflect Studio (Commercial, 2022)
Hasbro (Creative Direction, 2016)
Exess (Creative Direction, 2016)
shopi go (Creative Direction, 2016)
Yves Rocher (Editorial, 2014 - 2016)
Jãgermeister (Copywriting, 2012 - 2014)