Description
This paper explores the use of relational art approaches in amplifying the multiple memories of women ex-prisoners from Diyarbakir Military Prison, infamous for human rights violations following Turkey’s 1980 military coup. Drawing on my PhD fieldwork in 2021 and extended data collection in 2024, the study examines participatory art methods as alternative means of seeking truth. The Diyarbakir Prison Truth Investigation and Justice Commission, established by civil society actors in 2007, was the first informal truth commission in Turkey. This initiative was further developed by the Diyarbakir Prison No. 5 Museum Coordination Center's art project and the 2016 exhibition Women and Diyarbakır Prison No. 5. Twenty-two ex-prisoners were paired with activist-artists to create relational, feminist-sensitive art that transcends stereotypical gender narratives. By focusing on diverse identities—as women, activists, writers, and mothers—the exhibition challenged misogynistic perceptions and dominant narratives. This relational process fostered temporal connections between artists and ex-prisoners, while creating a critical space for memory making. However, the project’s limitations include limited engagement with the politically diverse women ex-prisoners, including those in diaspora. This study highlights the transformative potential and constraints of relational art practices in truth-recovery, illuminating silent stories and underrepresented perspectives of Kurdish women’s experiences.
