Art project in a women’s prison – Arbil, Iraq

November 2010. Erbil, Kurdistan

This project was developed by female victims of violence in Kurdistan/Iraq, who actively participated in the work, and was based on their own life stories. As part of activities to commemorate International Women’s Day, we collaborated with the women in the prison to share their stories about their struggles with male-inflicted violence. Following the project in the prison, we published pamphlets written by the women, and distributed them in a public space. We then erected a tent in a park in the city, as an interactive art installation in which ordinary people could write messages of peace to the women. The aim was to create a connection between the people and the female prisoners, and to raise awareness of gender-based violence. We encouraged the people to engage with, and provide feedback on, the women’s artwork. Later, we presented documentary footage of the artwork to the women. The women expressed their agony stemming from male violence, and the oppression of the patriarchal culture in Iraq. However, when the prisoners received the documentary footage, it brought them happiness to realise that there are many ordinary people in Iraq who empathise with, and show solidarity with the women. They understand that the women’s imprisonment is a result of the crime of the wider patriarchal system in the country.