Turkish artist hangs 440 pairs of shoes to highlight femicide

Turkis artist Vahit Tuna adopts a bold statement to highlight femicide and domestic abuse.

Four hundred and forty pairs of high heel shoes hung on the walls of a building in Istanbul to raise awareness against domestic violence.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Me4RrgALl/

The art installation created by Turkish artist Vahit Tuna aims at paying tribute to 440 women murdered in Turkey in 2018.

According to the Metro report, the buildings featuring the installation, one in Istanbul’s Kabataş neighbourhood and the other in the Beyoğlu district.

As being reported, the walls on which the artwork is displayed are used by a different artist every year to showcase their work.

For Tuna, it was important to use the opportunity to raise awareness of gender-based violence.

“I think this (installation) creates an awareness and is something that influences people and make them think,” the artist said.

“We wanted everyone passing by the road to see the work. This is why we did not want to host the exhibition in a closed area”, Tuna told Turkish media, adding that he had been inspired by the custom, in some parts of Turkey, of placing the shoes of someone who had passed away outside the home.

His work will be available on display for 6 months.

Around 440 women were killed in 2018 in Istanbul, according to a report published by Kadin Cinayetlerini Durduracagiz Platformu (We Will Stop Femicide Platform) which keeps the records of femicides across Turkey.