WATER
Water is a vital substance for life on Earth, essential for the survival of all living organisms. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid that exists in three states – solid, liquid, and gas. It covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface and is present in oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers.
JINWAR
JINWAR is an ecological village, constructed in the region near by the Khabur river. It is conceptualised and constructed by women for women against the multi-dimensional – intersectional – discrimination and degradation of women and children in the age of drought and political scarcity.
JINWAR has been designed on dry ground and developed since 2015 despite the recurring geopolitical challenges in this region. As a constructed feminist utopia, it is an experiment in progress aiming for a “free and healthy society” (JINWAR). This objective is reflected in the outline of the village, the symbols on the house walls and water supply stations but also in the layout of road maps. The project proposes the possibility of ecological life in an age of drought, hunger and conflict. JINWAR is built with clay and its inhabitants take care of the soil, cultivate plants for food and shade and practice reforestation .
Resilience in this case is not only about self-sufficiency, but also about creating spaces for education in ecology, women’s science and social justice. Jineology is a Kurdish perspective of women science (Jineoloji 2020) to raise awareness about communal living, critical human-environment relationship and feminism.This way women are constructing freedom in the conflict and post conflict area. The village is driven forward in spite of embargoes, conditions of war and sanctions.
The design and contours of the JINWAR as a feminist ecological women’s village were decided upon by the future residents in the midst of the ongoing war– a triangle, the sign for women in Mesopotamian cuneiform. The establishment of Jineology, the Kurdish women’s perspectives of knowledge, is visible in the architecture of this ecological village.
Water reservoir in JINWAR
With Şahmaran Icon on the wall. And digital water drop installation 2022/JINWAR.
Click on the water drop to change its shape. A dynamic of its own develops to a limited extent with each click. What asosiations does it awaken in us? What kind of meaning do we personally give to water and what kind of meaning is given to water in our society?
Şahmaran MYTH
Şahmaran is a mythical creature in kurdish and middel eastern culture. She is depicted as a half-woman, half-snake being, with a human head and upper body and a snake’s tail for the lower body.
She is believed to have healing powers and is often associated with water, as she is said to live in lakes and rivers. In some stories, she is also associated with the Tree of Life and is believed to have the power to grant immortality.
Water as a ICON for Healing
In some versions of the Şahmaran myth, she is said to have emerged from the water, and her connection to water is seen as a symbol of her power and ability to bring life and vitality. The association of Shahmeran with water and healing is reflected in the culture of this region, where water was often used in traditional healing practices.
Now also a symbol on the walls in Jinwar as a reflection on what was believed and what kind of symbolism in society are exists, which is questioned by women.