Valley
December 2023 - November 2024
ARTVİN
Yusufeli Dam is one out of the ten dams whose construction has been completed or is ongoing on the Çoruh River, which originates in Turkey and flows into the sea from Georgia and forms the largest canyons in the Turkish geography. This dam, which is in the final stages of construction, will be the third largest dam built with its own technique in the international rankings when completed. The construction of the dam, which was first brought to the agenda in the 1970s, has been delayed until today due to economic reasons. People living in Yusufeli have been living with the anxiety of displacement for more than forty years. The district center has been moved six times before due to political and geographical reasons. Simultaneously with the dam construction, the construction of the new district center has reached its final stage. After the dam is completed, the living spaces, agricultural areas, cemeteries and heirloom lands of Yusufeli residents will be flooded.
The artist started this series of photographs, thinking that in a few years he would not be able to step on the ground he stepped on when he first went to Yusufeli, and that he would not be able to see the the area again. The relationship of Yusufeli residents with geography is actually like the two rivers passing through the district. One of these is Çoruh, which transcends cities and even countries, and the other is Barhal Stream, which remains in its birthplace. Çoruh continues his flow on a new path, including Barhal, and throws aside those he cannot include in his path. Although Çoruh will lose its power, it will continue to flow in the future, even though its path is blocked by dams, Barhal will disappear. Yusufeli's history will repeat itself and it will be moved again. So, which of these two will Yusufeli's fate be like?
