Every country has its problems and its sorrows. There are no utopias out there. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t always aspire to make things better for everyone.
That can take some guts, however, especially for particularly shameful concerns. But facing up to problems is the only way to solve them, and sometimes for that, we have to look to the artists.
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Turkish artist Vahit Tuna is turning heads with his latest installation in Istanbul.
To draw attention to Turkey’s domestic abuse problem, the artist hung 440 pairs of shoes on the side of two buildings, out in the open for everyone to see.
Each pair of black high heeled shoes represents one woman killed by her husband in Turkey in 2018.
It’s a fitting tribute in Turkey.
In some areas in the nation, it’s customary to leave a person’s shoes outside, on the wall of their home, after they pass away.
But to emblazon that on 260 square meters of wall of a major city is another thing entirely.
Vahit explained that the shoes were chosen not just for how they look but for what they symbolize.
He told Turkish media that the black high heels symbolize independence and defiance, according to Metro , and he wanted to honor the independent lives the murdered women didn’t get to live.
He also added that making it a large, highly visible display was a conscious choice as well.
“We wanted everyone passing by the road to see,” he said. “This is why we did not want to host the exhibition in a closed area.”
Vahit’s work will be on display in Istanbul for the next six months.
h/t: Metro
