Photographer Docuements Turkey’s Decadent Abandoned Mosques

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Photographer James Kerwin is known for his images documenting abandoned buildings worldwide. His latest series, The Sanctuary, takes him to Turkey, where he explores the abandoned mosques present in small villages across the country. Many of the structures are over 500 years old and have been left in favor of more modern spaces for worship. Thanks to Kerwin, we’re able to appreciate their beauty and architectural detail.

To create the series, Kerwin, who is based in Istanbul, passed through approximately 18 towns and cities and visited over 40 villages, covering five of Turkey’s seven vast regions. Each visit was truly an adventure, as Kerwin didn’t know what he would find until he arrived at his destination.

“I never scouted the places prior in the flesh but tried to make sure there was at least some fairly recent news,” the photographer tells My Modern Met. “However, it failed with four of my top targets—I arrived, and they had vanished.”

Luckily, even with this hit-and-miss strategy, Kerwin found plenty of architecture to spark his creativity. As he’s particularly inspired by color, he was pleasantly surprised to find many mosques retaining their vibrant interiors. His photography reminds us of the incredible artistry and craftsmanship that went into these religious structures and is an important testament to their existence.

Through this series, Kerwin hopes to share the rich heritage of Turkey and its architecture. To him, it’s particularly important given that most tourists only visit a small fraction of the country.

Check out some of our favorite images from the series below and see the full gallery on Kerwin’s website.

James Kerwin is known for his photography of abandoned spaces.

Rubble Inside an Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Door of an abadoned mosque in Turkey

For his new series, The Sanctuary, he traveled across Turkey searching for abandoned mosques.

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

The Sanctuary (Turkey) 2024 By James Kerwin

He visited over 40 villages and found some mosques that were over 500 years old.

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Many of these spaces have been left behind in favor of modern places of worship.

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

The Sanctuary (Turkey) 2024 By James Kerwin

The Sanctuary (Turkey) 2024 By James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

But through his photographs, we can appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of the interiors.

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

Abandoned Mosque in Turkey by James Kerwin

James Kerwin: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by James Kerwin.

Related Articles:

Photographer Explores the Beauty and Decay of Abandoned Churches in Italy

Incredible Photos Show the Scars That War Left Behind on Beirut’s Architecture

Photos of Abandoned Churches Display the Decadent Beauty Left Behind in Ruins

Photographer Preserves the Forgotten Beauty of Abandoned Sites Around the UK

Related Posts

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recent Stories