Exhibiting the works he/she created with autistic students.

The exhibition named ‘Ohana’, consisting of the paintings and macrame works made by Gülce Hamoğlu together with some autistic students, who lives in Istanbul, has opened in Bodrum. Gülce Hamoğlu, who voluntarily conducts workshop activities with autistic students at an association in Istanbul, presented some of the paintings and macrame works she made with the students at the club to the art lovers in Bodrum. In the exhibition named ‘Ohana’, which the artist named after the meaning of family in Hawaiian language, there are 34 works of art along with the paintings made by autistic students.
At the Artemisia Exhibition Hall of Bodrum Municipality, Gülce Hamoğlu’s students, as well as club managers and close friends, attended the exhibition. Providing information about her works at the opening, Gülce Hamoğlu said, ‘I have been doing wood painting and macrame since I was 14 years old. I try to do things related to art in all of my free time. When I was in college, students from the orphanage used to come to us, we would act as their older sisters, give them tutoring. I learned there that most of those children cannot have a profession, most of them cannot go to school. I had a dream to do something for them. My ex-boss’s son is autistic. They opened a school for autistic children, and I started teaching them voluntarily. Actually, my intention was to get involved in an organization related to providing them with a profession. I have been working on this for 2 years. Now I have created an exhibition. I started some paintings with them and then completed them myself. I did some of them myself. I have a dream of opening a workshop for them. This is my first exhibition, so I am very excited.’
Gülce Hamoğlu, explaining that a total of 25 students are receiving education at the Life Autism Sports Club Association, said, ‘We have students who have won Turkey championships and Istanbul championships in branches such as table tennis and swimming at our school. We also have a very talented student in painting, named Elif. Her paintings are also exhibited. She made them for me.’ Hamoğlu, who stated that she loves working with ropes and trees, said, ‘I combined these macrames in the exhibition with paintings. I love nature very much. That’s why I made such collages. If they are liked, I will continue to do more.’
Nurşen Hançer, the President of the Life Autism Sports Club Association, described their work at the association as follows; ‘I have a 30-year-old autistic son. My partner also has a 28-year-old autistic son. We opened a school together. For 13 years, we have been providing education to children in need and training licensed athletes. We also have children who have gone to the national team. We have known Gülce for a long time, and we are very happy to be part of such a project. It will be a beautiful project and event for our children.’
The exhibition will be open until July 21st.