Olgaç Bozalp
‘Leaving One for Another’
by Olgaç Bozalp, published by Void.
“People’s desire to move from one place to another has always fascinated me, both on a political and personal level. I started this series to explore the reasons why, and see how they measure to those of my own.”
Olgaç Bozalp
Leaving One for Another
‘Leaving One for Another’, by Olgaç Bozalp combines documentary with stylised constructed imagery to explore both the journeys and disparate causes of migration. Drawing on his own experience of migration, Bozalp’s work tells the more universal story of human movement through often playful and absurd images which are heavy with symbolism.
“Bozalp has been at the forefront of a movement to diversify visual culture, introducing new ideas about gender, beauty and race.”
British Journal of Photography
In the book, documentary photographs taken on Bozalp’s travels are interspersed and contrasted with staged interventions created in collaboration with art director Raphael Hirsch. Some of the constructed imagery depicts figures in the landscape, all faceless with their identities hidden. Other imagery depicts sculptural installations incorporating significant objects from migrants’ lives and journeys—family photographs, life vests and bags of possessions. The theme of transport runs through the work—precariously loaded motorcycles, rafts, cars—illustrating how lives are physically carried through the passage to a new life.
The documentary element in the project is inspired by Bozalp’s observations, travels and personal stories. He has visited nearly fifty countries, focusing on those with complex histories in the Middle East, Asia and his home country Turkey. The images collectively form a visual essay to represent a universal story of migration whether it be through forced displacement, through conflict or gentrification, or simply the pursuit of new financial opportunities for freedom of expression.
The Special Edition
Limited edition of 10
Olgaç Bozalp
Olgaç Bozalp was born in Turkey and currently lives in London. A multidisciplinary artist, he works with photography, film, installations, and art direction—a recurring theme in his work is the exploration of cultural identity.
Olgaç was selected Foam’s 2022 Talent. In 2019 he was selected as "Ones to Watch" by the British Journal of Photography.
Bozalp has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery (UK), Aperture Gallery (US), Sharjah Art Foundation (UAE), Unseen (Netherlands) and Odunpazari Modern Museum (Turkey), amongst others.
24 x 29,4 cm
88 pages
750 copies
Softcover with Silkscreened Vinyl oversleeve
ISBN 978-618-5479-23-7
Leaving One for Another
Special Edition
Limited edition of 10 copies
With a fine art print numbered and signed by Olgaç Bozalp
Image size: 20.3 x 25.4 cm (8 x 10 in)
Edition of 10 + 2 APs
C-Type Print
Featured in
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ENGLAND, British Library
ENGLAND, Picnic
GERMANY, Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Bibliothek
GREECE, Void
IRELAND, The Library Project
LATVIA, ISSP
ROMANIA, Photo Romania Festival at Grain Lab
SWITZERLAND, De Pietri Artphilein Foundation
USA, MoMA Library
USA, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Hirsch Library)
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Photograph: Olgaç Bozalp
Text: Olgaç Bozalp
Design: João Linneu
Edit: Myrto Steirou
Printing: MAS Matbaa
Binding: MAS Matbaa
Language: English
Text Edit: Thiago Carvalho
Font: Rainer Regular & Bold by Vectro TypeOlgaç Bozalp © for the photographs and text
Void © for this edition