Paying homage to women activists in Europe and Central Asia through ‘artivism’

Date: Thursday, 13 April 2023

^{Painting of murals featuring 6 women activists from Europe and Central Asia and a strong woman figure with tigers by artists Tina Chertova and Nataša Konjević at UN Women Regional Office in Istanbul, Türkiye. Video: Ventura Formicone}

Art has long been a powerful medium for activism, a means to create awareness and catalyze change. Recognizing the power of art to inspire social transformation, UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) is paying homage to women activists and trailblazers in the region through a series of murals, illustrations and an interactive wall displayed across its premises in Istanbul, Türkiye.

For this purpose, UN Women ECARO has collaborated with women artists to create inspiring graphic and mural art celebrating the legacy of 24 trailblazing women who have contributed to advance gender equality and women's empowerment in the region.

^{Interactive wall created by UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia for staff and visitors to learn more about the outstanding women from the region who are featured in the office premises and to become part of the region's collective feminist history by interacting with the wall. Video: Erman Fermancı}

In addition, the regional office has created an interactive wall for staff and visitors to learn more about the outstanding women from Europe and Central Asia who are featured in the office premises and to become part of the region's collective feminist history by interacting with the wall. The wall invites staff and visitors to contribute personal items, notes and objects that hold a significance to their individual or collective effort for gender equality and women's empowerment.

Illustrations of 24 women activists from Europe and Central produced by artist Tina Chertova, displayed across the premises of UN Women in Istanbul.

Mural illustrating trailblazing women's rights activists from Europe and Central Asia, painted by artist Tina Chertova. Photo: UN Women

"This project is very important, it shows how many great women were/are fighting for a better future, and it is very important to not forget those from the past and also support women in the present."

Tina Chertova, Activist , feminist, and artist from Georgia

Tina Chertova, an activist , feminist, and artist from Tbilisi, Georgia who is doing street art and graphic art. Photo credit Sofi Mdivnishvili

Mural illustrating a strong woman figure accompanied by tigers - one of the fiercest animals on earth - rushing towards an equal world, illustrated by Nataša Konjević. Photo: UN Women

"I wanted to present a strong, determined woman who runs not from the problem, but towards the solution. I choose to represent her strength via painting one of the most fierce animals - a tiger."

Nataša Konjević, Mural artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina

"These stunning murals and graphic illustrations not only capture the spirit and impact of these trailblazers, but also serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and women's empowerment."

Alia El-Yassir, UN Women Regional Director for ECA

UN Women ECARO operates in two regions that are diverse and rich in language, culture, and history. Its mandate is to support the transition to more equal, peaceful, and just societies by promoting gender balance in decision-making, advancing gender data-driven change, ending violence against women and girls, transforming harmful norms and stereotypes, and ensuring that women and girls can influence and build sustainable peace.

^{About the artists}

^{Tina Chertova}

^{Tina Chertova, 35, is a handmade craft designer from Tbilisi, Georgia who has been fighting for women’s rights in her country for more than a decade. Her main goal is building a better future for new generations and making essential information accessible to any person who is in need.}

^{She has created works for various festivals and projects, among them the Urban art festival Fabrikaffiti, Georgia “Made by Characters” JWT Metro, “Who is dating who” (on LGBT rights), “#13 June” memorial of the flood in Georgia, the comic series “Social workers for safe families” as well as the “Dreamer” statue to commemorate the 8 August war.}

^{Chertova is the author of the social project Dreamingstan, which fosters the development of feminism in the country and she has contributed to developing initiatives providing visual information about human rights. She is the owner of the family start-up Chertova, which provides handmade toys for charity events and orphanages.}

^{Nataša Konjević}

^{Nataša Konjević is a freelance illustrator and muralist based in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She graduated in 2012 at the Art academy in Banja Luka, and got her masters degree in 2018 at the Faculty of Applied arts in Belgrade. She has painted murals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Belgium, Germany and Italy, and have been actively involved in this discipline since 2012.}

^{During these years she received awards for her work, one of them being Paola de Maninkor - award for the best mural in Prijedor in 2013. Also, she took part in numerous international festivals and workshops on topic of street art.}

^{Nataša had 7 solo exibitions, took part in over 30 colective ones, and facilitated few workshops on topic of murals, illustrations and comics. In addition to murals she has illustrated several books and is the author and illustrator of the awarded children's book Really Unreal Stories, which she hopes to publish one day.}