Alternative Encounters Adıyaman: We Came Together Through Art, Memory, and Solidarity
“Alternative Encounters,” which we held in Adıyaman between April 17-19, 2025, in collaboration with the Flying Broom Women's Communication and Research Association, was more than just an event program for us; it was one of the ways to think, create, listen, and create space for each other's experiences.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, we believe that art and cultural production are not only a space that "makes you feel good," but also a tool that builds memory, makes experience visible, and strengthens solidarity. Alternative Encounters-Adıyaman was born precisely from this need.
For three days, we met with women, young people, activists, artists, and students in different locations in Adıyaman; in container cities, solidarity spaces, and cultural areas. Through workshops we organized around photography, food, the right to the city, cinema, upcycling, and storytelling, we both thought together and explored ways to create together.
The "Speaking Photographs Workshop," held on the first day of the program, created a space for women to express their own perspectives and daily life experiences through photographs. Beginning with the question, "What would photographs say if they could speak?", the workshop transformed into a collective exhibition that made the participants' own stories visible.
The "My Little Cookbook" discussion, also held on the same day, suggested viewing the kitchen not merely as a place for cooking, but as a space where memory, labor, and culture are passed on. As women shared their recipes, memories, and personal stories, they also reflected together on the invisible labor of everyday life.
The "We Are Strengthening Each Other" meeting brought together civil society organizations and independent activists working in different fields in Adıyaman. We discussed the transformed work experiences after the earthquake, burnout, solidarity, and ways to stay together.
The "Upcycling Workshop with Waste Fabrics," held on the second day, allowed participants to reflect on the climate crisis and consumer culture while also experiencing the transformative power of creation. Participants reused waste fabric scraps to produce different forms, sharing their everyday climate experiences.
The screening of the film Ceylin, which we also held that same day , and the subsequent discussion, made us reconsider how art can intersect with advocacy. Through the film, which focuses on the lives of child seasonal agricultural workers, we discussed issues such as children's rights, the right to education, and child marriage.
The "Where Am I on the Adıyaman Map?" workshop, which we held on the last day of the program, held a special place for us. While discussing women's urban experiences, their freedom of movement, their sense of security, and their marginalized needs, we attempted to remap Adıyaman from a woman's perspective. Together, we considered why it is vital to center women's voices, experiences, and needs in the urban life rebuilt after the earthquake.
Throughout the Alternative Encounters series, we have once again seen that art, culture, and collective production are not "secondary" tools in times of crisis, but rather fundamental tools for healing, solidarity, and reconstruction. Because thinking, creating, and sharing our stories together reminds us that we are not alone.
We would like to thank all the artists, activists, participants, solidarity networks, and all the institutions we worked with who contributed to the realization of this program. We believe that these encounters established in Adıyaman will open up space for new solidarities, new productions, and new voices.
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