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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Dogan produced works of art in prisons, often using her menstrual blood and hair. This, despite art being forbidden in jail. She says only thirty works were seized by authorities and destroyed.
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Prison life for women is a common theme of Dogan’s work behind bars; being in jail, she had little access to paper, improvising with bedsheets. (Photo: Dorian Jones / VOA)
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Electricity and shopping bills offered Dogan rare opportunities to use paper in her art while serving nearly two years in prison. (Photo: Dorian Jones /VOA)
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The struggle of Kurdish women is a strong theme in Dogan’s work. (Photo: Dorian Jones/VOA)