Beritan Canözer / JINHA

AMED - Photographer Dilan Bozyel is preparing to open an exhibition of photographs of women's productive work in all areas of life. The exhibition will be shown in the city of Kobanê, in Rojava, among other cities.

Dilan was originally studying business, but she began increasingly to feel that the field was not for her. "The art of photography was my medicine," Dilan remarked. That was eight years ago. Since then, Dilan has participated in a number of group and solo shows. In 2010, she showed a series of photographs of child brides in London and Turkey.

Now, Dilan is working with the group Alternative Production Association on an exhibition that will display women's production. Cooperatives in Italy and Spain have also been involved in the project.

"We will photograph the work of all women doing production--milking animals, doing agriculture, looking after children, cleaning the house, making yogurt and cheese," said Dilan. Dilan says her goal is to speak out against the challenges women face.

"Besides silently suffering with a challenge, we also have the power inside us to stand up against that challenge," said Dilan. "Most of the time, we fall quiet, hide ourselves away, say it's 'fate' and accept these challenges. My way of communication is with the art of photography and this is how I communicate my reaction."

For the first showing of the exhibition, at Istanbul's Cezayir Culture Center, the women in the photographs will be present. After that, they hope to bring the exhibition to Diyarbakır, Turkey; the Maxmur refugee camp in Iraq; Armenia; and the city of Kobanê, in Rojava.

(gc/cm)