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There’s A Haunting Memorial In Turkey To Commemorate 440 Women Killed By Their Own Husbands Last Year
There is a certain beauty and strength in weakness as some may say. But sometimes inequity between people brings only sorrow. Such is the case of domestic violence, an acute yet so often unspoken problem all over the world. One artist in Turkey found it so heartbreaking and important, he managed to find a way to bring it to the awareness of his fellow countrymen that just couldn’t be ignored and also beautifully commemorate those who fell victim for this terrible violence so at least the memory of those wasted lives remains.
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These 440 pairs of shoes were hung up on the wall of a building in Istanbul, Turkey
We hear quite a lot of stories about domestic violence against women from about every corner of the world and it is one of the most common reasons for violent deaths in women. Regarding matters in Turkey, these numbers speak to the fact that about 40 percent of women there have suffered from domestic violence, some cases having the most tragic end. In pursuit of bringing awareness to these problems, one artist came up with the idea of a monument no one could overlook.
To commemorate the 440 women in the country who were killed by their own husbands last year
It was made by a Turkish artist and graphic designer, Vahit Tuna
The artist himself said that the inspiration to act came from seeing the increasing number of messages about the problem on social media. However, he was aware that those stories tend to disappear as quickly as they rise to the attention of the public eye and saw the need of a reminder that could not go unnoticed for a long while.
He chose high-heels as a symbol of feminine power and independence that he wishes all women had
The high-heels never belonged to the victims but rather are a cultural gesture
The artist argues about the choice of using high-heels and not flats or any other kind of shoes. He says that on one hand, it shouldn’t be seen as a direct message as he chose heels mostly because of aesthetical reasons. It’s visual after all, so he had to think in that way. On the other hand, he contradicts himself saying it could be seen as a symbol of women being employed and therefore able to care for themselves, not being dependent on their spouses.
In some regions of Turkey, it’s traditional to put a person’s shoes outside after they pass
The family puts their shoes out as a symbol of mourning
The artist believes that knowledge is power and thus it’s important to know the problem and how can one tackle it as an individual. It takes a lot of separate movement to change the system. Tuna’s other projects also gravitate around social and economic issues his home country is dealing with.
The art installation is set up in a central location of Istanbul
The 440 shoes will stay on display there for 6 months
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What do you think ?
Jette Wang Wahnon 5 years ago
Finally an artist bring to the public awareness of a matter that is mostly relegated to page 17 in the local newspaper.A few lines saying so and so,mother to two children,was stabbed,strangled or coshed to death and next day we use the paper to wrap the potato peel...and the life lost is forgotten....and it should not be so. The artists work is so important that it deserves to be shown around the world in order to raise awareness of this steep rise in domestic violence related deaths and possibly open the eyes of the authorities so the women in such situations can get more support and help. This exhibit is heart-breaking
JackTheAllSeeingEye 5 years ago
Besides these hateful comments here, the last murder was the last straw.... A -so called- man, stabbed his wife (Emine Bulut) before the eyes of their 11 year old daughter. She was screaming "I don't want to die" in front of her daughter while bleeding through her throat.... And this is just one which got recorded of the many others (There are videos on YouTube which I never had guts to watch it)... At the same day another one stabbed at least 14 times, which they couldn't tell her 7 year old daughter that she died.. While interviewing with daughter she said, "please give enough money to doctors who are taking care of my mother to make her live with me, I can't sleep without her"...
Bob Mumby 5 years ago
A mother can report domestic violence and do but it takes her death before the authorities do anything ITS TO LATE THEN if the whole system all over the world were to take the first report seriously then and only then may a life be saved
Load More Replies...
deanna woods 5 years ago
This art installation is very powerful and I hope all who see will start to understand that change needs to happen. All people need to love each other and not hurt each other.
TheReader19 5 years ago
The question in my mind is what are we women going to do about this? As the mother of two daughters who'll be off to uni next year who do I keep them safe and help them make good decisions?
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago
It's hard. My parents educated me, I never ever thought I'd be abused and yet it happened. It's a slow creeping process, and let them know mental abuse will always precede physical. No woman in their right mind would stay if they were hit. And this is true. When you are mentally abused and worn down you aren't in your right mind
Load More Replies...
Demi Zwaan 5 years ago
High heels as symbols of feminine power and independence? It's men who want us to wear them, they're torture devices! Not long ago a post here on BP showed what happens when we wear high heels all day... blood and pain!
Uwe Theiss 5 years ago
May you don't know about the history of high heels. They where invented by men for men and at first only men wore high heels. (They were used to ride a horse, the high heel helped staying in the step of a saddle.) Women started to adept them as a sign of power cause they where wearing men clothes. The same happend later with Trousers.
Load More Replies...
Chewie Baron 5 years ago
This is incredibly powerful. I just wish it would make men take notice.
Grace Robertson 5 years ago
I wish not only men but the countries of the world.
Load More Replies...
Theresa Tzitzira 5 years ago
Women die or get heavily abused at the hands of their spouses in every single country. Compared to the numbers of men who meet a similar fate, the comparison is even ridiculous, women victims outnumber men victims by far. I find this artwork a powerful message, the youth should be made to see, the message should be passed on to the young generations that abuse in general is EVIL
Kjorn 5 years ago
Wonder… just Wonder… how many woman has been killed by their husband in america as well...
Tina Hugh 5 years ago
About 1200 each year. Population of Turkey: 81 million. Population of USA: 327 million. So Turkey is more 30% more murderous toward wives. I’m not sure what your point was, but I think we can agree that spousal murder is wrong in any country
Load More Replies...
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
Here is something on domestic violence in Germany (with about the same (80 million) population as Turkey): https://www.dw.com/en/domestic-violence-in-germany-woman-killed-every-3-days/a-46380446
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
The USA (329 million) "In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. That’s an average of three women every day." : https://now.org/resource/violence-against-women-in-the-united-states-statistic/
Load More Replies...
Teresa Mardell 5 years ago
It beggars belief! Well done to this artist for bringing it to the fore .😢😢😢
Lizelle du Plessis 5 years ago
This made me hurt so bad. I feel physically sick to look at this. I really hope and pray that violence against EVERYONE would stop. I am so sorry for these ladies, may their souls rest in peace.
juice 5 years ago
it is located in Istanbul in the Beyoğlu district on the wall of the Kahve Dünyası branch in Kabataş, at number 85 on Meclis-i Mebusan Street. at least, that's what the internet told me.
Load More Replies... 
miten sasmita 5 years ago
This is insane. 440 killed in just 2018 ?! Only God knows how many million women are abuses by their husbands on daily basis.
Bluebell Rizzi 5 years ago
Beautiful symbolism. Hopefully this will spread enough awareness for action
Robert Mendlein 5 years ago
As the news has said, it is clearly illegal to take someone's life, but if the government looks the other way it condones the practice. Another example of religion's basic inhumanity being promoted.
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
So you think it doesn't happen in the US every single day of the year?
Load More Replies...
Meg Lampert 5 years ago
@boredpanda How can readers help? What can we do in the US to help the children and other women in danger?
Monika Rhodes 5 years ago
Teach boys respect, not to cat-call, judge girl by what she wears etc etc...
Load More Replies...
StringOfHearts 5 years ago
Why only 6 months? Why not keep adding to it and keep it there indefinitely?
Cherie of Numenor 5 years ago
When I see powerful imagery like this, I believe the men who murdered the women should be given the death penalty. I have no doubt that some of them are sitting in prison...breathing air, eating food, and living....but why? They should be dead, like their victims who had no choice.
Thomas Vinters 5 years ago
Death is peaceful. When you're dead, you are no longer dealing with the consequences of your actions. Murderers do not deserve that.
Load More Replies...
Zelda Blue 5 years ago
I would like to see some comments from people in Turkey. I want to know if this incredibly poignant creation made leaders, police and others there stand up and take notice that this is just in one place. Why are you allowing your mothers, daughters, sisters be killed by their husbands?
Agnes Jekyll 5 years ago
Every three minutes, a woman is killed in France.
Load More Replies...
George Digamma 5 years ago
How is it possible to kill your woman, your companion, the mother of your children? The person who agreed to spend her life at your side? And 440? What the hell is going on there? Many men are ''small'' (like these killers and their fathers) bt they do not kill anyone.
Thomas Vinters 5 years ago
When you don't consider women as humans, killing them becomes as easy as damaging an object.
Load More Replies...
Gail Young 5 years ago
a beautiful, powerful, heartbreaking art installation.....domestic violence is rife....why?
Tina Wilson 5 years ago
I want to know if there are 440 men in prison for murder? And if not, WHY!!!!!!!!!
Pacifico Fernandez 5 years ago
too sad i that this abusive behaviour it tolerated and even encouraged by the government and personally by Erdogan. His party is propagating the "traditional muslim vallues" that the place of the women is in the kitchen and giving birth and if women disagree with their husbands the husband should have his way. When a woman wears high heels and shorts in public, she is an object of well tollerated abuse and police wont do anything. When victims of domestic violence go to the police, the only thing they hear is "go back to your husband". Poor turkish women, I really feel for you and I hope you will overcome this horrible dictator! If not, please take the risk and emigrate in Europe.
Samhhain Cat 5 years ago
Thank you very much, religion. And you know which one I'm talking about.
Louise B 5 years ago (edited)
An appalling statistic. But the rates of domestic violence against women are appalling everywhere. It's a terrible thing when the person who should love and cherish you most in the world does nothing but hurt you. Not just in terms of physical violence - how many people of all genders have been destroyed by psychological cruelty? I speak from experience. The abuse might end, but the after effects can last a lifetime
TiaCalenture 5 years ago
I am going to look at guys from Turkey a lot differently. Michigan: 2016: 63
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
That Country has no laws to protect the women, then the children have lost a mother they loved and needed, heartbreaking to say the least !!!
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
It happens ALL OVER THE WORLD - including where you live. Quit pretending it's someone else's problem.
Load More Replies...
Esley 5 years ago
"20 people per minute are abused by an intimate partner in the United States..." It's not a "men in THAT country are so violent" problem. https://ncadv.org/statistics
Load More Replies...
Jette Wang Wahnon 5 years ago
I just read your name from right to left womeN arE eviL and obviously you are not quite right in the head so will disregard your comment.
Load More Replies...
Irina Roznerita 5 years ago
Well we will remember not to glue yours when you pass away...
Load More Replies... Jette Wang Wahnon 5 years ago
Finally an artist bring to the public awareness of a matter that is mostly relegated to page 17 in the local newspaper.A few lines saying so and so,mother to two children,was stabbed,strangled or coshed to death and next day we use the paper to wrap the potato peel...and the life lost is forgotten....and it should not be so. The artists work is so important that it deserves to be shown around the world in order to raise awareness of this steep rise in domestic violence related deaths and possibly open the eyes of the authorities so the women in such situations can get more support and help. This exhibit is heart-breaking
JackTheAllSeeingEye 5 years ago
Besides these hateful comments here, the last murder was the last straw.... A -so called- man, stabbed his wife (Emine Bulut) before the eyes of their 11 year old daughter. She was screaming "I don't want to die" in front of her daughter while bleeding through her throat.... And this is just one which got recorded of the many others (There are videos on YouTube which I never had guts to watch it)... At the same day another one stabbed at least 14 times, which they couldn't tell her 7 year old daughter that she died.. While interviewing with daughter she said, "please give enough money to doctors who are taking care of my mother to make her live with me, I can't sleep without her"...
Bob Mumby 5 years ago
A mother can report domestic violence and do but it takes her death before the authorities do anything ITS TO LATE THEN if the whole system all over the world were to take the first report seriously then and only then may a life be saved
Load More Replies... deanna woods 5 years ago
This art installation is very powerful and I hope all who see will start to understand that change needs to happen. All people need to love each other and not hurt each other.
TheReader19 5 years ago
The question in my mind is what are we women going to do about this? As the mother of two daughters who'll be off to uni next year who do I keep them safe and help them make good decisions?
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago
It's hard. My parents educated me, I never ever thought I'd be abused and yet it happened. It's a slow creeping process, and let them know mental abuse will always precede physical. No woman in their right mind would stay if they were hit. And this is true. When you are mentally abused and worn down you aren't in your right mind
Load More Replies... Demi Zwaan 5 years ago
High heels as symbols of feminine power and independence? It's men who want us to wear them, they're torture devices! Not long ago a post here on BP showed what happens when we wear high heels all day... blood and pain!
Uwe Theiss 5 years ago
May you don't know about the history of high heels. They where invented by men for men and at first only men wore high heels. (They were used to ride a horse, the high heel helped staying in the step of a saddle.) Women started to adept them as a sign of power cause they where wearing men clothes. The same happend later with Trousers.
Load More Replies... Chewie Baron 5 years ago
This is incredibly powerful. I just wish it would make men take notice.
Grace Robertson 5 years ago
I wish not only men but the countries of the world.
Load More Replies... Theresa Tzitzira 5 years ago
Women die or get heavily abused at the hands of their spouses in every single country. Compared to the numbers of men who meet a similar fate, the comparison is even ridiculous, women victims outnumber men victims by far. I find this artwork a powerful message, the youth should be made to see, the message should be passed on to the young generations that abuse in general is EVIL
Kjorn 5 years ago
Wonder… just Wonder… how many woman has been killed by their husband in america as well...
Tina Hugh 5 years ago
About 1200 each year. Population of Turkey: 81 million. Population of USA: 327 million. So Turkey is more 30% more murderous toward wives. I’m not sure what your point was, but I think we can agree that spousal murder is wrong in any country
Load More Replies... Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
Here is something on domestic violence in Germany (with about the same (80 million) population as Turkey): https://www.dw.com/en/domestic-violence-in-germany-woman-killed-every-3-days/a-46380446
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
The USA (329 million) "In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. That’s an average of three women every day." : https://now.org/resource/violence-against-women-in-the-united-states-statistic/
Load More Replies... Teresa Mardell 5 years ago
It beggars belief! Well done to this artist for bringing it to the fore .😢😢😢
Lizelle du Plessis 5 years ago
This made me hurt so bad. I feel physically sick to look at this. I really hope and pray that violence against EVERYONE would stop. I am so sorry for these ladies, may their souls rest in peace.
juice 5 years ago
it is located in Istanbul in the Beyoğlu district on the wall of the Kahve Dünyası branch in Kabataş, at number 85 on Meclis-i Mebusan Street. at least, that's what the internet told me.
Load More Replies... miten sasmita 5 years ago
This is insane. 440 killed in just 2018 ?! Only God knows how many million women are abuses by their husbands on daily basis.
Bluebell Rizzi 5 years ago
Beautiful symbolism. Hopefully this will spread enough awareness for action
Robert Mendlein 5 years ago
As the news has said, it is clearly illegal to take someone's life, but if the government looks the other way it condones the practice. Another example of religion's basic inhumanity being promoted.
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
So you think it doesn't happen in the US every single day of the year?
Load More Replies... Meg Lampert 5 years ago
@boredpanda How can readers help? What can we do in the US to help the children and other women in danger?
Monika Rhodes 5 years ago
Teach boys respect, not to cat-call, judge girl by what she wears etc etc...
Load More Replies... StringOfHearts 5 years ago
Why only 6 months? Why not keep adding to it and keep it there indefinitely?
Cherie of Numenor 5 years ago
When I see powerful imagery like this, I believe the men who murdered the women should be given the death penalty. I have no doubt that some of them are sitting in prison...breathing air, eating food, and living....but why? They should be dead, like their victims who had no choice.
Thomas Vinters 5 years ago
Death is peaceful. When you're dead, you are no longer dealing with the consequences of your actions. Murderers do not deserve that.
Load More Replies... Zelda Blue 5 years ago
I would like to see some comments from people in Turkey. I want to know if this incredibly poignant creation made leaders, police and others there stand up and take notice that this is just in one place. Why are you allowing your mothers, daughters, sisters be killed by their husbands?
Agnes Jekyll 5 years ago
Every three minutes, a woman is killed in France.
Load More Replies... George Digamma 5 years ago
How is it possible to kill your woman, your companion, the mother of your children? The person who agreed to spend her life at your side? And 440? What the hell is going on there? Many men are ''small'' (like these killers and their fathers) bt they do not kill anyone.
Thomas Vinters 5 years ago
When you don't consider women as humans, killing them becomes as easy as damaging an object.
Load More Replies... Gail Young 5 years ago
a beautiful, powerful, heartbreaking art installation.....domestic violence is rife....why?
Tina Wilson 5 years ago
I want to know if there are 440 men in prison for murder? And if not, WHY!!!!!!!!!
Pacifico Fernandez 5 years ago
too sad i that this abusive behaviour it tolerated and even encouraged by the government and personally by Erdogan. His party is propagating the "traditional muslim vallues" that the place of the women is in the kitchen and giving birth and if women disagree with their husbands the husband should have his way. When a woman wears high heels and shorts in public, she is an object of well tollerated abuse and police wont do anything. When victims of domestic violence go to the police, the only thing they hear is "go back to your husband". Poor turkish women, I really feel for you and I hope you will overcome this horrible dictator! If not, please take the risk and emigrate in Europe.
Samhhain Cat 5 years ago
Thank you very much, religion. And you know which one I'm talking about.
Louise B 5 years ago (edited)
An appalling statistic. But the rates of domestic violence against women are appalling everywhere. It's a terrible thing when the person who should love and cherish you most in the world does nothing but hurt you. Not just in terms of physical violence - how many people of all genders have been destroyed by psychological cruelty? I speak from experience. The abuse might end, but the after effects can last a lifetime
TiaCalenture 5 years ago
I am going to look at guys from Turkey a lot differently. Michigan: 2016: 63
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
That Country has no laws to protect the women, then the children have lost a mother they loved and needed, heartbreaking to say the least !!!
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
It happens ALL OVER THE WORLD - including where you live. Quit pretending it's someone else's problem.
Load More Replies... Esley 5 years ago
"20 people per minute are abused by an intimate partner in the United States..." It's not a "men in THAT country are so violent" problem. https://ncadv.org/statistics
Load More Replies... Jette Wang Wahnon 5 years ago
I just read your name from right to left womeN arE eviL and obviously you are not quite right in the head so will disregard your comment.
Load More Replies... Irina Roznerita 5 years ago
Well we will remember not to glue yours when you pass away...
Load More Replies...
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