New photography book sheds light on the labourers who built OMM
OMM — Odunpazarı Modern Museum has released a photography book dedicated to the construction workers who built the museum, a major cultural landmark designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates in Eskişehir, Turkey, that opened in September 2019.
The People Who Made OMM sheds light on the labour and craftsmanship that formed the backbone of the museum, featuring monochrome portraits of OMM’s makers by renowned fashion photographer Emilio Hope, architectural photographs and personal interviews with the construction team.
Inspiration for the project came several months prior to the museum’s opening OMM’s construction manager was overheard describing the building and future plans for it. Despite the cold weather, his responses were so detailed and his excitement so contagious he could be mistaken for a museum guide.
The workers’ strong sense of personal pride in building OMM was a source of inspiration for the book, responding to the unfortunate fact that the perspectives of labourers on the buildings they create are rarely sought. To quote Monocle On Design, ‘This is why The People Who Made OMM – which focuses on the Turkish builders who constructed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma’s masterpiece of a museum in Eskişehir last year – is so heartening to read. The passion shown in the artful photographs within is reminiscent of those 1930s images of workers constructing the Empire State Building.’
In support of their contribution, loyalty cards and free entry to the museum were gifted by OMM Founder Erol Tabanca to everyone who contributed to its construction, so they are able to access the collections and exhibitions with their families whenever they wish.
