Creative Mornings: Koorsoo

How a Glimmer of Hope Ignites Creative Action

This January, the global Creative Mornings community is exploring the theme of Koorsoo. Chosen by the Tehran chapter, "Koorsoo" is a Farsi word that translates to "a glimmer of hope." It speaks to the quiet, resilient light we find in moments of darkness.

The Tehran chapter beautifully defines the concept:

“In our darkest hours, when everything seems to have dimmed, sometimes a light remains—not bright, not certain, but real. That is Koorsoo—a faint glimmer of hope that dares to survive. Koorsoo is not about triumph or clarity; it is about the fragile yet unwavering light that keeps us going. A glance, a memory, a word—small things that prevent collapse. It represents the quiet resilience of those who continue in spite of the weight, who believe without guarantee. In a world that often normalizes despair, Koorsoo is a rebellion—soft, but profound. It reminds us: even the smallest spark matters.”

ModularPlastik had the opportunity to see this theme brought to life at the Creative Mornings Ankara event, which featured an inspiring talk by Pelin Kılıç.

Meet the Speaker: Pelin Kılıç and "Evolving Hope"

The speaker for the Ankara event was Pelin Kılıç, who presented her talk, "Umudu Evriltmek" (Evolving Hope). Pelin is a practitioner who actively thinks about public space, urban experience, legal struggle, and visual production together. With an education in City and Regional Planning and a master's in urban design, her work is a powerful synthesis of two distinct approaches to nurturing hope. In her role at the TMMOB Chamber of City Planners Ankara Branch, she demonstrates how to sustain hope through structural and legal advocacy. In parallel, her work in photography and community-building shows how to multiply hope through creative action and collective visibility.

For over 17 years, photography has been her parallel practice of observation. It’s a tool for self-expression that mirrors her inner world, which she notes once trended toward darker themes. Her experience with analog photography sharpened this skill; with only 36 shots on a roll, she learned to look with intense care before pressing the shutter. Yet, she eventually felt a burnout from "chasing the moment" rather than living in it.

The Spark: Finding Community Through Concert Photography

Pelin’s path took a pivotal turn when she began exploring concert photography. She noted that despite its challenges, she loves the "excitement and rush" of the environment. A key moment of encouragement came when musician Jay Jay Johanson shared positive feedback on photos she had taken at his concert, greatly boosting her motivation.

This experience led to her own "Koorsoo" moment. As she spent more time shooting concerts, she began to notice a pattern in the press areas. Through an act of empathy and problem-finding, she identified a critical gap in the system: the stark absence of women photographers. This wasn't just an observation; it was the recognition of an unmet need for representation that she felt on both a social and individual level.

This spark ignited a desire to build a team. She put out an "OpenCall" and founded "Girls to the Front," a collective of women and Queer photographers dedicated to increasing their visibility on the music scene. The initiative proved that many others felt the same lack of representation, and it has since become a space that actively multiplies Koorsoo for others. Today, the collective has grown into a team of 25 photographers, proving how a single observation can evolve into a supportive community.

Nurturing Our Own Glimmer of Hope

Pelin Kılıç's story is a powerful, real-world example of Koorsoo in action. Her journey from urban planner to the founder of a photography collective is not just about finding a personal glimmer of hope, but about designing a system to generate and multiply that hope for an entire community. Her work transforms a personal passion into a "soft, but profound" act of rebellion against invisibility. It is a testament to the quiet power of continuing to believe, to hope, and to build.

Pelin Kılıç's story shows how a single spark can illuminate a whole community. What faint glimmer of hope in your own world is waiting to be shared?

instagram: @pelinilic , @girlstothefronttr