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| Figen Cebe, Untitled, 2011 , 80 x 100cm |
"One tree dies, a nation awakens." Nazim Hikmet
There are defining moments in history that linger in a society's memory that people use as a reference point when they are talking about the past; usually these moments are of events that shocked and devastated a nation like the shooting of JFK or 9/11. I think this past week in contrast will be remembered as one of the most exultant times in history, as the time Turks rebelled...protested... united as a force against their government displaying their solidarity, courage and passion. Turks' creativity, ingenuity and unique sense of humor coming into the forefront, reminding us of what we possess within our fold. I must apologize for going off track and writing about something like this on a blog that is supposed to be devoted to art, culture and history but this time I have to make an exception ... since as I already mentioned, these are not ordinary times.
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| Besiktas, Istanbul where the worst of the police attacks have taken place |
Under normal circumstances, I choose to be purposefully ignorant about politics, it is one of those areas that leaves me feeling insignificant and angry but there is nothing ordinary about our circumstances. So, this past week I have become an accidental activist. Considering the photographs from Turkey of the little old ladies walking down the streets of Istanbul with flags in their hands and reports of people passing out food and water, families giving shelter to the protesters, my contribution of posting on Facebook and Twitter incessantly about the developments seems very minimal indeed.
