Writer Orhan Pamuk: The Texture of Istanbul | Louisiana Channel

"This landscape made me." In this intimate interview, Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk reflects on Istanbul, the city that has shaped his life and writing. From his office overlooking the Bosphorus, Pamuk describes Istanbul as an ever-present source of inspiration, memory, and introspection.

"I’ve been looking at it for the last 40, 50 years," Pamuk explains. The sense of belonging permeates his works, where the city’s complex character—the faded grandeur of Ottoman architecture, the bustling Bosphorus traffic, and the nostalgic feel of black-and-white winter landscapes—comes alive.

Pamuk’s Istanbul is one of the contradictions: a city simultaneously "poor at the edge of Europe" yet rich in history and cultural resilience. He speaks of Istanbul’s distinct “Hüzün,” or melancholy, as a defining characteristic, a blend of Sufi-inspired humility and historical resignation that he experienced deeply in his youth. "My beautiful Istanbul is black and white," he notes, underscoring his affection for the city’s unpolished, almost melancholic charm, which he captured in his early photography and paintings.

Orhan Pamuk also describes Istanbul’s unique soundscape, where the noises of bustling avenues, street vendors, and even the calls of seagulls over the Bosphorus reflect the essence of the city. "Every city has a different sound," he observes, emphasizing how these familiar sounds deepen his connection to Istanbul’s rhythm. Over the years, his perception of the city has grown into a personal mission: "A city turns out to be an index for your memories."

He contrasts Istanbul’s constant transformation with its timeless structures, which evoke an emotional and historical depth for him. Pamuk mourns the rapid changes that erase Istanbul’s “old, fragile” architecture and streets, elements he believes are vital to the city’s identity. "We are attached to this old Ottoman fountain…because it’s part of me after a while," he says, highlighting the personal significance that everyone can find in a city’s enduring spaces.

Orhan Pamuk (b. 1952, Istanbul) is one of Turkey’s most celebrated authors, known for his novels "Snow," "My Name Is Red," and "The Museum of Innocence." Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006, he has become an international voice exploring themes of identity, memory, and the intersection of East and West.

The video shows photographs by Orhan Pamuk from the books Balcony (2018) and Orange (2020).

Orhan Pamuk was interviewed by Christian Lund in Istanbul in September 2024.

Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard
Edited by Roxanne Bagheshirin Lærkesen
Produced by Christian Lund

Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2024

Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet, C.L. Davids Fond og Samling and Fritz Hansen

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[ingridglerum]

Orhan Pamuk's book about Istanbul is a great introduction to his beloved city - he captured the good and the bad and turned it into magic! Tesekkuer ederim!

[eg]

I feel happy to be able to read his books in original language. His words built a love in my soul for my beautiful city, İstanbul 🖤

[rolandthanksjesus]

When I hear him express his thoughts, I find it fascinating how he expresses things that have been slumbering within me, but haven't yet thought of them, thoughts that have always been there but were only awakened by his expressions. It feels as if his thoughts are my thoughts, his feelings my feelings, adapted and yet more than recreated, indeed, more like a fusion. He has the talent of giving you the feeling after reading his work: "I feel understood, I am not alone."

[karpuzir]

Every time I visit the city I make it a point to go to Cihangir Mosque, the one right below Pamuk's balcony. I often dream of running into him in the streets in Cihangir but never have, so I stare at his balcony from the mosque's courtyard hoping to catch a glimpse of the writer that accompanied me during my years of solitude

[slaa.]

Thank you very much for posting this. My favorite writer reminds me why I fell for this city.

[Not_necessarily_in_that_order]

Such eloquent and thoughtful words about structures and trees being indexes and markers of our memory. And such stunning photos! Didn't know til today he's into photography, too. Thank you for this interview, Louisiana Channel.

P.S. Oh, to be a tourist in Istanbul and finding the Orhan Pamuk talking about stray cats in some random street :D

[spfrnve]

Today’s Istanbul is a far cry from the city of Orhan’s youth. It’s not gray and sad anymore, definitely not poor. It’s a city reborn once again! But there is Istanbul for Tourists and Istanbul of 15 million people that surround the Disneyland.

[alexmax]

A master in literature. Fascinating to hear his story from himself.

[paulburgess]

A profound artist and passionate man who has meditated long and deeply on the source of his mysterious gift. The strange conjunction of circumstances, economic, historic, geographic, psychological and temperamental, that uniquely coalesce in a fascinating man. A wonderful artist living in his endlessly beautiful labyrinth, Istanbul.

[hiko.murs.]

Orhan Pamuk is the writer who wrote his best books after getting the Noble Prize. 👌😌 Living legend!

[sedakaranfil]

Istanbul's main theme is sorrow, but it is not a sorrow related to the economy in my opinion. Its structure, deep history, its landscape, character of its people, as a combination of all, its main theme is sorrow... Addressing its sorrow with economy is so superficial I am so sorry... I always made a good amount of income in the city, yet I found myself always in the middle of this city's sorrow, it embraced me and I embraced it.. I miss its sorrow, my sorrow, our mutually nutritioned sorrow, I have money, nothing related to the economy... The city feeds us with its sorrow and we feed it back the same way... We love that... We are over-romantic and nostalgic, we should just accept it...

[tmilichoo]

Very valuable documentary. Thanks a lot!

[ВанДайн-шщ]

One of the best for today, if not the best.

[nesscoperta]

roma ve istanbul yürürken bile insana bir şeyler öğreten, hatırlatan 2 güzel şehir, ikisinde de yaşamak inanılmaz güzel... orhan pamuk her zamanki gibi çok güzel anlatmış

[neuteo-nouva]

Wow ❤ i read "Snow" in college and loved it. Must read again, 17 years later.

[Mindfookfilms]

Priceless interview. My Name Is Red is still in my top 10. Thank you Louisiana Museum.

[seanhiggins]

I lived in İstanbul for four and a half years.I've read his book İSTANBUL among others.I shared Orhan Pamuk's hobby of walking the streets of İstanbul while living there.I love the city very much.Sadly, I left İstanbul in September 2024 due to high inflation and soaring rentals and food prices.

[darengibson]

Thank you. What is the beautiful accompanying music?

[ericchang]

I didn't realize how much I lost until I watch this video.

[Atilla-mi]

I like when Orhan said that he loves living near conservative people even though he is mentally different. Many liberal Turks have respect for the conservative Turks. I wish we had more of that in the USA. I believe most American Liberals would be respectful if they visited an Amish community. However, when it comes to the rest of the conservatives that live amongst them the liberals tend to not respect them as much and majority of our conservatives are not that conservative.