Creation of a sculpture for the Turkish-Greek Population Exchange of 1923, which holds a special place in history of İzmir has begun.

The Exchange Sculpture is being prepared in Kültürpark Atlas Pavilion by Belarussian artist Sergei Oganov, who was awarded by the jury in the 8^th International İzmir Sculpture Workshop.

Aiming to create a camaraderie bridge between the people of Turkey and Greece, the sculpture selected in the first chapter of the workshop among the 47 works with the theme “Population Exchange” is called “The Doors of The Native Home”. Belarussian artist Sergei Oganov building the sculpture from bronze in Kültürpark Atlas Pavilion, is happy to be in İzmir. Narrating the truth of the Population Exchange with two doors with Greek motifs on one and Turkish motifs on the other, the artist explains the story of his work, “first I wanted to say something about people. Although political and historic events are different, this was a tragedy for people before anything else. For me, finding a symbol that will unite all men, women, children and elderly was important. People were forced to leave their homes. And an empty house with doors locked is still a symbol of pain and tragedy. But the connection between the generations of different cultures still continues today.”

After completion of the clay phase, the plaster and polyester mould of the statue will be taken, cast in Bursa and will be completed by the end of the year and will be placed in the area in front of the House of Exchange and Memories in Kasaplar Square.