On the Shore of All Possibilities Illustration Exhibition - Open Call

As part of MARUF on the Go, the open call for the illustration exhibition, which will be held under the conceptual framework of ‘On the Shore of All Possibilities'  continues  in partnership with Istanbul Illustration Days.

As an inland sea, the Marmara carries symbolic meanings through its restrictions and its straits that connect to larger seas. Marmara Sea contains thresholds, transitions, transformations, and all possibilities. Being on the coast means being both at the center and borderline, between remaining on land and reaching the vastness of the sea.

This exhibition is designed under the conceptual framework of ‘On the Shore of All Possibilities’; it aims to foster a broad range of intellectual and visual creativity, from fauna and flora of the Marmara coast to ancient cultural representations, from the connection between coastal cities and water, to processes of urban transformation. Participants will explore the power of illustration as a tool for cultural transmission and have an opportunity to find creative ways to express their connection with the city.

The illustrations, which will be selected, will show in MARUF25 on 1-3 October 2025 at Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul.

Application Requirements

• The open call prioritizes the applications from the illustrators who live in or have a connection to cities bordering the Marmara Sea (Istanbul, Kocaeli, Yalova, Bursa, Balikesir, Çanakkale, Tekirdağ).
• Participants are expected to produce an authentic illustration aligned with the exhibiton 's theme.
• Each participant can submit up to three works.
• Participation is limited by quota.

Submission deadline for illustrations: 31 August 2025.

All submitted works will be evaluated by Istanbul Illustration Days and MARUF25 Selection Committee.

To apply: mbb.bb/illustration