20 Powerful Artworks As A Response To The Devastating Earthquake In Turkey And Syria

As we all have heard, a devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria on February 6, 2023, followed by another one of magnitude 7.7. It caused widespread damage and tens of thousands of fatalities. Over 52,800 deaths were confirmed, and an estimated 14 million people were affected. Turkey called for international help, and more than 141,000 people from 94 countries joined the rescue effort. However, the rescue efforts were hampered by damaged roads, winter storms, and disruptions to communications.
It is the deadliest earthquake in Turkey as the damages were estimated at over US$100 billion, making them the fourth-costliest earthquake on record. Despite the tragedy, there is hope as people from around the world joined forces to help with the rescue and relief effort. There will be a long road to recovery, but the international community will continue to offer aid and support to those affected.
Apart from the effort from brave soldiers and special forces to rescue survivors, numerous artists also employed their skills to increase awareness about the earthquake and spread optimism in response to the calamity. Here are some of the arts shared by artists over the past weeks.

#1. Fuad Al-Ymani

Source: fuad_alymani

Fuad al-Ymani, a visual artist based in Prague, shared a sketch depicting Syrian rescuers attempting to clear rubble in their search for earthquake survivors. Ymani expressed that he had spent a considerable amount of time searching for the most effective way to convey the pain of the scenes emerging from the disaster zone. On Instagram, he wrote, "I don't believe that anything can accurately express the amount of tragedy and suffering this disaster has caused."

#2. Haitian Saigh, Syria

Source: wingsforsyria

#3. Volunteers in Turkey have placed red balloons on the rubble of destroyed buildings, to remember child victims of the recent earthquakes.

Source: bbc

#4. The Rose that Grew from the Concrete’ is a poem by Tupac Shakur. He uses the rose as a metaphor for his own life where he was able to reach his goals in life despite the hardships and lack of care that he faced on the way. - Alev Neto

Source: alev.neto

#5. "Demolition"

Source: İpek Mörel

#6. Hediye Sumeyra Korkmaz

Source: hediye.sumeyra

#7. Vigan Demiri

Source: Vigan Demiri

#8. Saydmedia

Source:

#9. Camila Echavarria

Source: camilae.art

The artist aims to offer hope to all those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Despite the current bleakness of the situation, there is always hope for a colorful future. Camila has transformed the earthquake seismograph graph into a stunning garden of tulips, which are the region's national flower. The tulips are predominantly gray, but one stands out, representing resilience, hope, and positivity.

#10. “Our people who were under the rubble of the earthquake in my country need your help to be saved.” – Hüseyin Şahin

Source: art.side

#11. Together.

Source: Yasin Yaman

#12. Hadil Alsafadi

Source: hoist_thecolors

#13. "My SandArt with the message 'Join Hands to Save The Earthquake Victims' at Puri beach in India," the artist tweeted.

Source: Sudarsan Pattnaik

#14. The image depicts the situation in Turkey where rescuers are still sifting through the rubble with faint hopes of finding more survivors

Source: Hacer Bolat

#15. "When your whole world comes crashing down."

Source: Alev Neto

#16. Camila Echavarria

Source: camilae.art

#17. Syrian artist Salam Hamed stands with her daughter next to street art that Salam painted on the rubble of a damaged building in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake

Source: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

#18. Zeynep Cilek, Istambul

Source: zeynepcilekcimen

#19. Cagdas Kara

Source: cgdskr.ainspiration

#20. Syrian artists Aziz Asmar and Salam Hamed paint street art on the rubble of damaged buildings in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake.

Source: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi