Webb first visited Istanbul at 16 when he attempted to capture some of the Turkish city’s excitement. Returning in 1998, he rediscovered it as a “border” city; bridging East and West, with ties to both Asia and Europe, Istanbul catered to both Islam and secularism. Webb recognized this liminal territory from his work exploring the US – Mexico border.
Over the next seven years, Webb documented Istanbul and its contrasting ideologies and cultures during a period when many hoped that Turkey would be the first Muslim majority country to join the EU. Today, the country has undergone considerable changes, its politics increasingly authoritarian and volatile under Recep Erdoğan. Yet in Webb’s book, it is possible to revisit a more optimistic time in the city’s life. Here we spoke to the photographer about his experiences in Istanbul and the inspiration he drew from the city.
