Inspired by artist Cristina Nunez, Gencel Bek is crafting her autobiography through photographs She’s taken of herself – not selfies – and her childhood album. Her focus is on continuity amidst ruptures in time and space, reconnecting with her past while contemplating roots and routes. She challenges stereotypes of exile, questioning if those who remain in their homeland are the sole strugglers. Her narrative isn’t a comprehensive 50-year autobiography but highlights significant ruptures, notably exile, as pivotal in her life. This personal journey confronts these ruptures head-on. After being dismissed for signing a peace petition, she responded by compiling her academic work into a book, asserting her existence despite challenges in Germany. Beyond academia, she navigates identities as a daughter, mother, and more, grounded in a working-class background.

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Gencel Bek, Mine (2024): “Searching for Biographical Trajectory in/as Exile and Healing the Heart”, in: Latife Akyüz et al. (eds.): Exiled Intellectuals: Encounters, Conflicts, and Experiences in Transnational Context. Vol. 2: Politicians and Artists. Cham, pp. 187–211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69614-5_10.