Shadows of Kurdistan
We are all born somewhere in this world. The nature around us is the first element to shape us, with all of the unique characteristics to that place. Then, we give names to these characteristics and meanings to these places--names that come from within our selves and are part of our culture.
I was born and raised in a village near the city of Urfa. For us, Kurdish was the language used for communicating, until I went to school. It was forbidden to speak Kurdish in schools, so, we were taught in Turkish. Suddenly, I had to learn and receive education through this new language.
I began to explore the Kurdish areas through photography, examining our culture and daily life. Beginning in Turkey I Took photos in Iran part in last month with hopes to complete the series in the other two countries. The photos you will see here are, taken in Turkey-Kurdistan.
In Turkey, there are about 18 million Kurds. For a long time, it was forbidden to speak Kurdish or to use Kurdish names for our children. Impacted by these experiences, I have titled my photography project, “Shadows of Kurdistan”. We live in this region, but live without the capacity to explain our culture in our language. We live in this land as shadows.
In this photography project, I wanted to have images from our daily life--in cities and in villages--and to show my peoples’ vibrant culture. History of humanity flows and is archived in many ways. My way is to depict the Kurdish culture with photographs. Archiving the culture and geography that I am a part of, and combining four pieces of Kurdistan into a single book.
I was born and raised in a village near the city of Urfa. For us, Kurdish was the language used for communicating, until I went to school. It was forbidden to speak Kurdish in schools, so, we were taught in Turkish. Suddenly, I had to learn and receive education through this new language.
I began to explore the Kurdish areas through photography, examining our culture and daily life. Beginning in Turkey I Took photos in Iran part in last month with hopes to complete the series in the other two countries. The photos you will see here are, taken in Turkey-Kurdistan.
In Turkey, there are about 18 million Kurds. For a long time, it was forbidden to speak Kurdish or to use Kurdish names for our children. Impacted by these experiences, I have titled my photography project, “Shadows of Kurdistan”. We live in this region, but live without the capacity to explain our culture in our language. We live in this land as shadows.
In this photography project, I wanted to have images from our daily life--in cities and in villages--and to show my peoples’ vibrant culture. History of humanity flows and is archived in many ways. My way is to depict the Kurdish culture with photographs. Archiving the culture and geography that I am a part of, and combining four pieces of Kurdistan into a single book.
Footprints in the snow.
Caldıran is the coldest area of Anatolia, with snow for 5 or 6 months a year. The footsteps of a wolf continue indefinitely on the snow. Çaldıran,Turkey 2016
The School
It is forbidden to speak Kurdish in schools, only Turkish is allowed. When children walk outside the door, they return to their Kurdish mother tongue.
Doğubeyazıt, Turkey 2016
Doğubeyazıt, Turkey 2016
Newroz Festival in Peacetime
When Turkey and the PKK began talks in 2012, people’s hopes were high. They started to feel safe and celebrated Newroz with freedom.
Suruç, Turkey 2015
Suruç, Turkey 2015
Sorrow (Mourning)
While at the funeral of the Kurdish fighter Gülsüm Çam, her aunt and other women mourn her loss.
When ISIS attacked attacked to Kurdish towns in Syria in between 2014 and 2016 years, a lot of Kurdish went to Syria for to fight against ISIS. Lot of them lost their life. Gülsüm Çam one was of them.
Batman, Turkey 2015
When ISIS attacked attacked to Kurdish towns in Syria in between 2014 and 2016 years, a lot of Kurdish went to Syria for to fight against ISIS. Lot of them lost their life. Gülsüm Çam one was of them.
Batman, Turkey 2015
A woman tries to find her home after the military occupation.
A woman tries to find her home after the military occupation.
Turkish army occupied Şırnak city from March 14, 2016 until November 16, 2016. The city destroyed by Turkish army after the occupation. People left their home because of the war between Kurdish fighter ( PKK) and Turkish Military.
When they back the city after 8 months, they couldn't find their home. Şırnak in 2016
Turkish army occupied Şırnak city from March 14, 2016 until November 16, 2016. The city destroyed by Turkish army after the occupation. People left their home because of the war between Kurdish fighter ( PKK) and Turkish Military.
When they back the city after 8 months, they couldn't find their home. Şırnak in 2016
Grave
A young Kurdish woman visits the grave of her brother, who was a member of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and lost his life while fighting against Turkish army.
Hakkari, Turkey 2015
Hakkari, Turkey 2015
The Saturday Mothers
The Saturday Mothers (Cumartesi Anneleri) is a group who gathers 12pm every Saturday for half an hour at Istiklal Street in Istanbul, Turkey. holding photographs of their "lost" loved ones.[1] Mainly composed of mothers of victims, and renowned as a model of civil disobedience, they combine silent sit-in with communal vigil as their method of protest against the forced disappearances and political murders in Turkey during the military coup -era of 1980s and the OHAL (Governorship of Region in State of Emergency)-era of 1990s.
Istanbul, Turkey 2012
Istanbul, Turkey 2012
Funeral
When ISIS attacked Kurdish cities in Syria, a lot of Kurds went to Syria for fight against ISIS.
Gülsüm Çam was one of them. She lost her life while fight against ISIS. Her family and community gave her a large funeral.
Gülsüm Çam was one of them. She lost her life while fight against ISIS. Her family and community gave her a large funeral.
Women in Traditional Attire for the Newroz Festival
For the Kurdish people, Newroz is an event which symbolizes the revolution and struggle of Kurds throughout history.
Diyarbakır, Turkey 2015
Diyarbakır, Turkey 2015
Mount Ararat
Greater Ararat and Little Ararat Mountains. Doğubeyazıt, Turkey 2016.
Wedding
The Kurdish wedding next the Mount Ararat. The wedding continue three days in village.
Amed city
The men are sitting in front of the historical wall in Diyarbakır city.
In winter, when there is sun, people meet in a place which has good sunlight. They want to get warm a bit and chatting.
In winter, when there is sun, people meet in a place which has good sunlight. They want to get warm a bit and chatting.
Villagers in front of Mount Ararat
Villagers in front of Mount Ararat
The men separate their animals while the women milk the sheep and goats by Mount Ararat.
Mount Ararat, Iğdır, Turkey 2016
The men separate their animals while the women milk the sheep and goats by Mount Ararat.
Mount Ararat, Iğdır, Turkey 2016
The Village
A village next the Syria border.
The Football
The kids are playing footbool at sunset.
Urfa city in 2014
Urfa city in 2014
Shepherd Kids
A village in Turkey near the city of Kobani in Syria. The border between Syria and Turkey separated the Kurdish people into two different countries.
Suruç, Turkey 2016
Suruç, Turkey 2016
Gypsy Family
A nomad gypsy family next the historical Urfa Castle.
The Meeting
The boys are on the meeting for the Newroz Festival in city center.
Kızıltepe in 2015
Kızıltepe in 2015
A Village Near the Armenian Border
A Village Near the Armenian Border
Armenian and Kurdish people lived together before the 1915 genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire.
Kars, Turkey 2015
Armenian and Kurdish people lived together before the 1915 genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire.
Kars, Turkey 2015
Preparing for Winter
In summer, shepherd's care for village sheep in the mountains. When winter returns, they separate their animals and return them to the barns.
Doğubeyazıt, Turchia 2016
Doğubeyazıt, Turchia 2016
Animal Market
At the Feast of the Sacrifice an animal market and the place for to cut animals. Urfa city in 2014
Games in the Shadows
Children playing games in the historic streets of Urfa.
Urfa, Turkey 2011
Urfa, Turkey 2011
Reflection
The reflection of the bridge and people on the river.
Van city in 2013
Van city in 2013
Daily life in a village.
A woman cares for her animals and two children coming come from school.
Mazıdağı, Turkey 2015
Mazıdağı, Turkey 2015
The school time
The girl going school in the village of Kars city near Armenia border.
Kars, Turkey 2014
Kars, Turkey 2014
A Break for Games
One side is Süphan mountain, the other side is Van lake and kids are playing between this two beautiful landscape features.
Adilcevaz,Turkey 2016
Adilcevaz,Turkey 2016
Carpenters
Kurdish day laborers wait in the café for someone to come and give them work.
Kars, Turkey 2014
Kars, Turkey 2014
Resting Time
The people have rest next bazaar. The weather can be about +45 degree in summer in Urfa city.
Urfa, Turkey 2014
Urfa, Turkey 2014
Nomad Kurds
The nomad Kurds spend 5 or 6 months around the mountain area with their animals in summer time. They come back from the mountains end of autumn and stay in their tents while winter. They make this walk in spring and autumn about 40 days with their thousands of animals.
The Footbal at sunset
The kids are playing footbal in earth field dring the sunset.
Urfa city in 2014
Urfa city in 2014
The Cafe
A lot of Kurds left their home in villages because of the civil war and they moved to Diyarbakir city. Because of this there are a lot of people unemployed in Diyarbakır and more of them spend time in cafes.
Diyarbakır city in 2014
Diyarbakır city in 2014
The Castle
The kids are next the historical Urfa castle.
Urfa, Turkey 2016
Urfa, Turkey 2016
Border Crossing
There is a an important border crossing between Turkey and Iran by Mount Ararat. Every day hundreds of big trucks pass through this crossing. When the trucks break their tires, they leave them on the road and the villagers collect them to make walls around their homes.
Doğubeyazıt, Turchia 2015
Doğubeyazıt, Turchia 2015
The Road
The roads can be dangerous in Kurdistan because of the civil war between Turkey and PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party ) or you can't guess what can happen when you move on these roads.
Bingöl, Turkey 2016
Bingöl, Turkey 2016
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