The exhibition "Cumhuriyet'in Öncü Kadınları" has opened

With the support of Açık Holding, the exhibition "Cumhuriyet'in Öncü Kadınları," created especially for the 100th anniversary of the Republic, has been opened.

With the support of Açık Holding, the "Cumhuriyet'in Öncü Kadınları" exhibition opened on October 27. The exhibition, which will continue at Artopol Art Gallery until November 6, will later be made available to enthusiasts in digital format. Speaking about the exhibition, which consists of four different sections, Curator Özlem Özdemir said, "I am a writer dedicated to the pioneering women of the Republic, and I have written six books. In particular, I wrote Kadınlar Cumhuriyeti and Bilimin Öncü Kadınları for young girls. Beyond books, I thought about what else I could do and how I could reach more people with women's stories, which led me to decide on an exhibition. But this couldn't be just a photo exhibition—it had to include information as well. In the end, with the support of Açık Holding, Şehrinaz Kartal embraced the project. That is why we are here today."

"THE EXHIBITION FEATURES COMPREHENSIVE BIOGRAPHIES OF 20 WOMEN WHO ACHIEVED HISTORIC FIRSTS IN THEIR PROFESSIONS"

Explaining the sections of the exhibition, Özdemir stated, "In the first section, we chronologically present Atatürk's perspective on women. From his early years as a young officer to his presidency, we showcase how he consistently advocated for women's equality with men as citizens. In the second section, we highlight how Turkish women gained their rights, comparing them to the rest of the world, as I believe it is important to remember this. It is crucial for young girls to know these rights. The third section features comprehensive biographies of 20 women who achieved historic firsts in their respective professions. Visitors will have the opportunity to get to know these women. In the final section, we present a list of 100 women who paved the way for us. This serves as a tribute to them, acknowledging their contributions. Some of these women are unknown to many, while others are still alive and among us today. That is why I want everyone to see this exhibition."

"WE WANT TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN"

Şehrinaz Kartal, Vice President of Marketing at Açık Holding, stated, "At Açık Holding, we have been planning this project for a long time. It is not something new. However, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Republic, which is very significant for us. Therefore, we decided to launch our project on a meaningful date. We have taken the first step in our long-planned 'Cumhuriyet'in Öncü Kadınları' project. This is just the beginning... We started with a physical exhibition, and later, we will transition it into a digital format. This way, we will be able to showcase all these women, and even more, in greater detail. This is very important for us because, as today's women, we draw inspiration from the pioneering women of the Republic. We follow their example to achieve success. And we strive to show future generations of women that their paths are open. We have a phrase that embodies this idea: 'Women who do not wait for inspiration but become the inspiration.' These women have inspired us without waiting for inspiration themselves. We want to be a source of inspiration for future generations of women. That is what this project means to us."

"WE WANT TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE PROJECT"

Şehrinaz Kartal added, "We want to create a sustainable project, not a one-time event. In the future, we plan to organize 'Cumhuriyet'in Öncü Kadınları' conferences. Açık Holding will host incredible events. Each year, these events will feature discussions on women's achievements specific to that year. They will share their stories with us. As a woman, I personally find this project very important and fully support it. Moreover, Açık Holding's Chairman, Yüksel Açık, shares this vision. I am very pleased that we could realize this project under the curation of the esteemed writer Özlem Özdemir."