Artistic healing emerges from the wreckage of Maras earthquakes: Tales of recovery
On February 6, 2023, earthquakes struck Turkey, causing widespread destruction in various provinces. Among the hardest-hit areas was Antakya, a city known for its rich cultural heritage. In the aftermath of the disaster, art has emerged as a powerful tool for healing and expression.
One of the most poignant examples of this is the community sculpture project, "The Stone of Remembrance." Survivors, using fragments from the ruins such as door handles, shards of glass, and broken marble, have created this collective memorial. The name symbolizes collective memory and honours shared history and experiences.
In the same vein, the Culture and Art Bazaar was established in Hatay to reunite artists who lost their studios and provide them with a space to create again. With 82 workshops in total, the bazaar has become a space of collective memory. Artists like Master woodcarver Ismail Demirel, who revives traditional crafts and passes them on to younger generations, and painter Yusuf Altunay, who lost his workshop after 32 years, find solace and a new purpose at the bazaar.
Art therapy has also played a significant role in the healing process. Clinical psychologist Ayse Kaya explains that art therapy helps people express trauma when words are not enough. Elif D, an art therapist, observes that children use colors to express what they cannot say with words, grieving while also imagining a future. Children in Antakya are using art as a means to express their feelings about the earthquake, painting suns, trees, and scenes from their demolished homes.
The 6 February Memorial Exhibition, organised by ArtAntakya and the Ansam Cultural Association, showcases these artworks. It uses the empty, shattered walls of the city as a backdrop, serving as a stark reminder of the destruction and a testament to the resilience of the community.
Moreover, international organizations like The Red Pencil Foundation train psychologists in art-based approaches to support the work on the ground. These approaches have proven effective in art workshops that have emerged as spaces of healing for both children and adults in affected areas.
The healing power of art is not confined to Antakya. "Art at the Zero Point," an exhibition featuring works from Antakya artists, traveled from Antakya to Leipzig, carrying the city's transformation onto the international stage. The defiant message in these artworks is clear: "We are still here-and we will be reborn."
In solidarity with the student survivors, the exhibition "Our Color is Antakya" was staged. Artist Derya Tatlici covers her new studio walls with images of destroyed streets and homes, reflecting the reality of the city but also offering a glimmer of hope.
Through art, the people of Antakya are finding a way to remember, heal, and rebuild. Their stories serve as a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of creativity in the face of adversity.
