KEBAB PROJECT
Project Title: Kebab Project - A Sociological Investigation
Disciplines: Research, Analog Photography, Writing, Book Design, Publishing
Brief: Document the immigrant experience through kebab shop culture across Europe and Turkey.
Solution: A self-directed, multi-year project handling every aspect from research to international printing.
Result: A 272-page limited edition book establishing a new benchmark in personal cultural documentation.
On the surface, it’s just a book about kebab shops. I started photographing them in Paris and Berlin, this very specific light, the neon signs, the tired chairs. I used my analogue camera, so the feeling is raw, like a memory.
But then it became something else. It’s a map of my own story. I followed this trail all the way back to Istanbul, and then to my hometown in East Turkey. I started talking to the guys working there. Listening. Their stories... full of sadness, of missing home, of being stuck between two worlds. This project became my self-therapy.
I captured this feeling—we have a word in Turkish, hüzün—a deep, shared melancholy. It’s in the photos, in the words. This book is not really about food. It’s about the immigrant life. The price we pay. The quiet search for a home that doesn't exist anymore.
And I did it all. The photos, the writing, the interviews, the design, even the fighting with the printer in Istanbul! It’s 272 pages of my life. My own personal investigation. I made this. From nothing.
The Vision: Where Personal History Meets Global Narrative
This wasn't a commission. This was a calling. The Kebab Project began as a personal quest to understand the immigrant experience through the most visible yet invisible spaces: kebab shops. It evolved into a comprehensive sociological investigation, blending autobiographical elements with rigorous documentation of the aesthetics, stories, and unspoken emotions behind these cultural touchstones.
The Execution: One-Person Publishing House
This project demanded every skill in my arsenal, transforming me into a complete creative production studio:
Research & Anthropology:
Conducted extensive interviews across Paris, Berlin, Istanbul, and Eastern Turkey
Documented immigration stories and cultural exchange through authentic conversations
Explored the hidden narratives of homesickness and melancholy behind the counter
Visual Documentation:
Shot entirely on analog film for timeless, textured authenticity
Captured the unique aesthetic language of kebab shops across continents
Created a visual archive of a disappearing cultural landscape
Writing & Editing:
Authored compelling narrative blending personal reflection with sociological insight
Edited raw interviews into poignant, readable anecdotes
Wrote in both English and Turkish for authentic bilingual presentation
Design & Publishing:
Executed complete desktop publishing and layout design
Mastered Japanese binding techniques for 620gr premium presentation
Managed entire print production process in Istanbul
Secured ISBN and handled international distribution
Entrepreneurship:
Self-financed and independently published the entire project
Created the first and only comprehensive document of its kind
Established "Kebab Project" as recognized cultural research initiative