30 Combined Photos By This Digital Artist That Remind Us Of The Two Different Worlds That People Live In

Bored Panda reached out to Uğur Gallenkuş to learn more about him and his creative process. We were curious to know what sparked his journey as a digital artist. "I used to make photomontages and memes of popular culture as a hobby," Gallenkuş shared. "The event that prompted me to focus on more pressing matters was the photograph of a refugee named Alan Kurdi, who drowned in 2015. That photograph of him mobilized the international community and states to address the challenges that refugees experienced at that time. Many organizations have been working to prevent drowning incidents in the Mediterranean and continue to do so. Many countries offered asylum to refugees, etc. So, what led to this response? The answer is simple. We empathized with that photo of baby Alan. This empathy we have developed has moved us to action."

Uğur Gallenkuş stands out for his powerful photo collages that possess the unique ability to shed light on pressing social issues in our world. We asked the artist what inspired him to create such impactful works. Gallenkuş pointed out that, unfortunately, many people tend to overlook the issues depicted in those photos. He explained, "These are photographs of distressing events we often see in the news, events that others have endured. The awareness sparked by Alan Kurd's photograph changed my perspective on these images that reveal the world's problems. It made me view them differently. I believe that if we can empathize with these problems, our interest in addressing them will increase, and we can take action to minimize their impact. With this belief in mind, I started combining photographs taken by various photographers with scenes, objects, events, or individuals from our daily lives, separated by a sharp contrast."

The artist shared that his work employs a very simple technique. "You place two different photos side by side and separate them with a sharp line. However, as simple as it may sound, it can be quite challenging. Finding suitable photos takes time, and I often have to scan through archives. The first step in my work is to locate the photograph that addresses the particular problem I want to draw attention to. These issues can range from war conflicts, refugees, and child-women-animal rights to environmental problems and income inequality. Once I have the main photo, I begin the process of finding the image that will create awareness in contrast to it. This search can sometimes be quick, taking only a few minutes, but other times, it may require hours, days, or even weeks."

When it comes to future plans, Gallenkuş aims to make his work reach beyond social media and touch more people. That's why he published his first book "Parallel Universes of Children", intending to draw attention to children's rights. Currently, he is working on a second book. Additionally, his works are exhibited in many countries and cities. Gallenkuş actively engages in social media and exhibition projects with organizations like the WHO Foundation and Doctors Without Borders to bring attention to various issues.