In Southeastern Turkey, just a few kilometres from the Syrian border, is Fotohane: a community darkroom teaching children how to shoot, develop, and print their own photographs
During Fotohane DARKROOM’s workshops, children from diverse backgrounds – Syrian, Iraqi, Turkish, Kurdish – are encouraged to relate to each other and the world around them through the visual medium of analog photography.
Led by Serbest Salih, a young photographer and Syrian refugee, the darkroom is founded on a fundamental belief in photography as a universal and therapeutic language, and encourages children living in the area – many of whom are themselves refugees from Syria and Iraq – to explore the medium as a form of play and a means of understanding the world around them.
The images captured by the children involved in the project are records of their day-to-day lives, punctuated by surprise and joy. By documenting their daily lives and experiences, children reclaim their narratives and find healing through self-expression.
In June 2025, a collection of photographs taken by the children at Fotohane DARKROOM will be shared as a part of Refugee Week Greece, an annual arts and culture festival in Athens that aims to celebrate the creativity, diversity and contributions of individuals with experiences of migration. The exhibition will feature images selected and printed by myself, in collaboration with the kids involved in the project.
My name is Izabel Della Siepe, and I am a Salvadoran-Canadian photographer based in Toronto, Canada. My work tends towards themes of connection and belonging – and what constitutes home – as well as the very nature of what bridges people together. I have been a partner of Fotohane’s since 2023.
I am working closely with the coordinators from Refugee Week Greece, as well a local cultural events manager and education coordinator named Dafni Crema to bring this exhibition to fruition. We would love to exhibit in a space like Living Room Athens, that is accessible, bright, and emphasizes creative communities. It would be such a pleasure to collaborate with you guys.
Serbest showing the kids how to reel negatives onto a spool at Fotohane.
Workshop participants practicing how to look through the view-finder.
Workshop participant selecting an image to print in the darkroom.I look forward to connecting with you!
Sincerely,
Izabel Della Siepe
Curator
Fotohane DARKROOM
izabeldellasiepe@fotohane.org
