An Exhibition Where the City Meets Imagination

The "Bornova Atlas of Imagination Photography and Illustration Exhibition," organized as part of the Bornova Municipality’s Hobby and Skills Development Courses, attracted great interest at the Uğur Mumcu Culture and Arts Center. Featuring works created by children aged 9–15 living in Bornova, the exhibition impressed visitors with original pieces reflecting city life through the eyes and imagination of young participants.

Reimagining Bornova Through Their Lenses

During the photography training and illustration workshops, the children first photographed the city from their own unique perspectives. Capturing Bornova’s streets, architecture, nature, and everyday life, they then reinterpreted these images using illustration techniques.

Through the addition of hand-drawn lines, vibrant colors, and creative designs, ordinary places were transformed into imaginative visual stories. Each artwork became a unique expression of the children's emotions, observations, and dreams about the city they call home.

A Creative Journey Between Reality and Imagination

Rather than simply presenting a photography exhibition, the display invited visitors to discover a version of Bornova reshaped by children's imagination. In these works, where reality and fantasy intertwine, buildings, streets, trees, and urban landscapes gained new meanings while revealing the hopeful perspectives of the young artists.

The exhibition received widespread appreciation from art lovers, serving not only as a platform for children's creativity but also as an inspiring example of combining different artistic disciplines.

A Creative Process Guided by Professional Instructors

The artworks were produced through workshops led by photography instructor Mert Çalır and illustrator Gülsüm Katmer. Throughout the program, the children learned the fundamentals of photography while combining their imagination with illustration to create original works of art.

A Portrait of a City Shaped by Children's Dreams

The Bornova Atlas of Imagination Exhibition demonstrated that a city is defined not only by its streets and buildings but also by the dreams of the children who live there. The young artists' creations offered visitors a fresh perspective on Bornova while once again highlighting the remarkable creativity and artistic potential of its youngest residents.