After traversing 8000km+ on road across Türkiye, a project was born by photographer Mert Berdilek, on how the country has changed, or hasn't since its formation 100 years ago. Shot solely on medium-format film, Tersine Göç ('Reverse Migration' in Turkish) is a journey into the heart of a country and its people. Where the lines of past and present are blurred. Where in some of the most remote locations, that elusive purity in humanity we're searching for as artists, is found, even if it were for just a fleeting moment. Mert Berdilek, is a Melbourne based Australian-Turkish Photographer & Filmmaker. Mert's work focuses on returning to his roots, for artistic exploration on core themes experienced by many migrant children living in diaspora. Mert's two major projects in 2024 address the same concept of "Reverse Migration" in two different mediums. Tersine Göç ('Reverse Migration' in Turkish) is a documentary portrait photography project shot from West to East Türkiye, and Geride Kalanlar ('The Remains' in Turkish) is a debut feature film project, entering production in December 2024, during winter in Eastern Türkiye. Support by Yarra City Arts Online Catalogue - https://solgallery.com.au/events/mert-berdilek