Urban Mosaic: Mobility, Creativity, and Belonging

We are happy to invite you to the exhibition created by our student, Adalat Naghiyev! The exhibition starts on the 26th of June and lasts until the 31st of July. You can check the full schedule here: https://www.adalatnaghiyev.com/um.

Below you can read more about the project and Adalat.

About the Project

The Urban Mosaic project emerged from observing communities of people living and working in Poznań who have moved here from seemingly distant countries. Despite their differences and perceived otherness, they bring a unique energy to the fabric of the city. Creativity is not reserved solely for artistic expression; rather, it is a way of building a sense of home, comfort, and safe space. Home does not necessarily have to be the place where one was born and raised — on the contrary, it can be any place that offers a sense of closeness and belonging. Not all of the protagonists presented here had previously been connected to creativity in the broad sense of the word. However, changing conditions and surroundings led them to a deeper search for identity and to discovering a passion for multidimensional forms of creation. They became artists: dancers, cooks, hairdressers, musicians, painters, and photographers. Today, they exist in an in-between space — a seemingly static state within constant movement. Never fully belonging anywhere: in their current place of residence they are perceived as foreigners, while in their countries of origin they are seen as those who live beyond the borders of their homeland. As a result, they face a choice: to remain where they are or to continue charting new directions for their journey. During this process, the definition of home as a physical space undergoes profound transformation, and its personal meaning becomes increasingly fluid and elusive. It is no coincidence that people say the body is one’s home — for those who experience constant movement, it becomes the only real and reliable shelter. Their art becomes a voice, a story, a record of struggle and happiness — a collective gesture and a communal expression. The role and fundamental purpose of the artist is to tell personal stories through the stories of others with whom they share experiences. It is we, the new inhabitants of the city, who create the urban mosaic — a culture-forming constellation of creativity, action, movement, and reciprocity.

Adalat Naghiyev

views photography as a mechanism to articulate stories, feelings, and identities with absolute clarity—an exercise in observation and psychology that captures the nuances words cannot hold. Based in Poznań, his work spans portraits, concerts, and brand visual identities, always focusing on what connects people, places, and emotion. He cares about capturing presence rather than just poses, keeping things honest and intentional whether using digital or analog film. „Urban Mosaic” is a deeply personal extension of this practice. It is a reflection of how he sees and feel the world through the lens, exploring his own journey by capturing the undeniable visual reality of the people who make this city vibrant.