This sculpture speaks to the pain endured, especially by women, during disasters and wars around the world. I created this piece in response to the devastating 2023 earthquake in my home country, Turkey, and Syria.
During any crisis, women often experience loss and vulnerability differently. Gender inequality becomes even more pronounced. When disaster fractures daily life, women frequently lose their privacy and safety. They are at greater risk of violence and often shoulder the burden of care in broken systems.
Women are also central figures in emotional survival. They are often more attuned to collective pain and carry the invisible weight of healing. That silent labour has a ripple effect, shaping families, communities, and futures long after the disaster has passed.
This piece is dedicated to all women affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria—and to women enduring the aftermath of disasters and wars across the globe.
Mixed media, 2023
40 x 40 x 40 cm