The exhibition describing the public relations processes conducted by states in the Allies front, in other words, their propaganda campaigns was opened at Koç University Anatolian Civilizations Research Center (ANAMED) in memory of the Centenary of World World One.
The exhibition named “War and Propaganda in Allies Front at World War 1” features numerous historical documents and objects ranging from posters to postcards, symbolic prizes to medals. The exhibition, which also reveals the relationships set up by Ottoman Empire with its own allies in the war period, may be visited at ANAMED until March 22. The exhibition, where pieces selected from the personal collection of Ömer M. Koç are exhibited, is curated by Bahattin Öztuncay and designed by Yeşim Demir.
The exhibition; which presents the art events, reciprocal visits, educational collaboration and other tools of propaganda by allied forces comprising Germany, Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire, offers important clues for today. Among albums standing out at the exhibition, is an album named “Pictures and Drawings from Turkey in the World War” consisting of pictures including the known first portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk by Wilhelm Viktor Krausz in 1915-16 period. The album deemed to be an important specimen of war propaganda by way of art was put in digital medium so that visitors could examine it in detail.
Posters, postcards and ceramic ware, honor and award symbols and activities conducted for gathering support of people by Ottoman Empire and other Allied States are other works on display at the exhibition. Beside historical documents, the video clip evidencing the visit by German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II to Istanbul in 1917, acquired from German Federal Archives, allows viewers to take a look at the diplomatic relationships of the period and the social order in times of war.
