Women’s Stories Meet Art!

Two years have passed since the February 6 earthquakes. While the earthquake brought great destruction, it also started a new process in which women rebuilt their lives in solidarity. MaviKalem, which considers supporting women in their efforts to rebuild their lives in this process as one of its main goals, contributes to healing the wounds caused by this great disaster in Hatay in various ways. One of these ways is for women to express themselves and their experiences through art. In the “Women Tell Their Stories” project launched by MaviKalem in November 2024, women in Hatay express their experiences through art. In the workshops conducted by painter and sculptor Meryem Tomak, women participating in the workshops tell their own stories through collage works.

Women share their experiences through art

In the cities affected by the earthquake, women struggled to reshape both their own lives and their environment. In this process, the responsibilities assumed by women in particular increased. Women turned to jobs such as tailoring, hairdressing, processing and selling agricultural products, and sought ways to stand on their own feet. But through all these difficulties, women continued to support each other and grow solidarity. This solidarity not only met basic needs, but also became a means for women to get back on their feet by talking about their experiences and sharing their feelings. At this point, art also became a powerful means of expression for women.

The works created by women in the workshops organized by MaviKalem using pieces of fabric, threads, photographs and colors reflect women’s resilience, the difficulties they have experienced and the lives they have rebuilt. Through art, women both express themselves and become stronger by sharing their common experiences. The workshops are not only a space for art production, but also an environment where women come together to find solutions, get support from each other and stand in solidarity.

The art products created in the workshops organized in Hatay will be presented to the audience in exhibitions to be held in Hatay, Istanbul and Ankara. In addition, the stories that emerged from the project will be published as a digital book to reach more people.

This project is supported by the Embassy of Ireland.