Zehra Dogan, a Kurdish artist who spent almost two years in a Turkish prison, is shining a light on Kurdish feminism with a daring Istanbul exhibition of works she created while behind bars. While drawing growing international plaudits until now, her work has never been displayed in Turkey.
Kurdish Artist's Prison Works On Display in Turkey for First Time
- By Dorian Jones
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The Istanbul exhibition was the first solo show of Zehra Dogan’s work giving people in Turkey a chance to see her art, which has already drawn international acclaim.
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Dogan’s picture of the destruction wrought on a town by the Turkish security forces in its battle against a Kurdish insurgency was deemed as terrorist propaganda resulting in a two years ten months prison sentence of which she served 600 days.
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Dogan used her dress for one work; she says improvising helped to convey her feminist message. Many of her works were smuggled out of prison, some reportedly in the prison laundry.
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Dogan says her work is driven by the twin themes of Kurdish resistance and feminism. (Photo: Dorian Jones / VOA)