A promise made to Istanbul. A continuous dialogue between a photographer and his city.
A struggle between leaving and staying. A city written in photographs. This visual story explores the contradictions that make Istanbul both “irreplaceable” and “unlivable,” while reflecting the artist’s inner journey through a lens of psychogeography. Created while Ci Demi was coming to terms with his bipolar diagnosis, the work resonates with both personal and collective memory.

No Offence If You Forget, a long-term project by Ci Demi, now becomes a photobook in collaboration with FiLBooks. The dos-à-dos binding of the book physically reflects the internal dilemma between staying and leaving—a mirrored fold of memory and desire.

The series was awarded first place at the Encontros da Imagem - Discovery Awards in 2022, and has been exhibited at respected venues like the Pera Museum and Lenscratch. Most recently, it was shortlisted among 25 finalists from 975 entries for the 2025/2026 Images Vevey Book Award.

To realize the production of the book, Ci Demi and FiLBooks have launched a crowdfunding campaign. Supporters will receive a fina art print and be acknowledged by name in the final publication. The first physical mock-up of the book will be presented during border_less ARTBOOK DAYS in May 2025.

No Offence If You Forget is not just a city diary—it’s a poetic map of a photographer’s attachment, memory, and emotional topography.

This book questions if a promise made to Istanbul can truly be kept.