Welcome to Colors and Lines of İzmir, a heartfelt tribute to the city that has shaped Eray Özbek's life and art. Through his whimsical carTOONS, filled with warmth and humor, Özbek invites viewers on a visual journey through the streets and soul of İzmir. This exhibition showcases his deep love for the city and its people, offering a unique and personal perspective. Experience the city through the eyes of one of its most celebrated artists.
“I was born in Muğla in 1942. From 1945 to 1956, we lived in Bergama, a historic corner of İzmir. Afterward, we moved to İzmir. Except for a ten-year stint in Istanbul for architecture studies, I’ve been an İzmir resident for seventy years. I love İzmir very much. Because it makes me happy, I’ve tried to repay my debt to it as much as I can: I’ve held about ten exhibitions in İzmir. One of them consisted of 100 pieces about scenes and people from İzmir. In the 2010s, I contributed significantly to the establishment and management of the Konak Municipality İzmir Joy and Cartoon Museum. My comic strip, “Mat-Rook (Metruk),” about the adventures of an İzmir street dog, was published in English on the internet (2018-2022). You can see all 200 chapters at https://matrookfromizmir.tumblr.com/tagged/chapter/chrono.
Receiving an offer from friends in Boston for this e-exhibition and thus being able to connect with those who miss İzmir has been a great honor for me. I thank you wholeheartedly, both Boston Turkish Festival and those who have taken the time to view it.”
