Grapes, Land, and Resistance – Study of Kurdish Harvesting Practices in the Context of Assimilation and Colonial Influence - Bilge Emine Arslan
Bilge Emine Arslan
The project explores the enduring connection between Kurdish women and their land as an act of survival and resistance amidst ecological and existential destruction. For generations, women-led harvesting practices such as grape harvesting and molasses (pekmez) making have preserved not only a bond with nature, but also a collective memory shaped by nomadic patterns, connections to the land, and stories of cultural erasure that come with settled life. This project examines the transformation of Kurdish women's relationships with nature and their rituals, with a focus on my family’s heritage tied to farming and ancestral practices. Using ethnographic research, oral histories, and audiovisual documentation, it highlights the role of these traditions in maintaining identity and fostering resilience in the face of colonial assimilation and state oppression.
