Aisuluu

Aisuluu

Kyrgyzstan, SUSI 2018

Inspired by an exhibition she had heard of in other regions of Central Asia, Aisuluu decided to organize a clothing installation called “What were you wearing?” The concept is to show the clothing a victim of rape was wearing in order to eradicate the common narrative that the victim is to blame for their choice of clothing.

Three of Aisuluu’s peers at the International University of Central Asia in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan helped organize the event. Together they compiled research on thirteen cases of rape in Kyrgyzstan and then they gathered clothing that resembled what the victim would have been wearing on the day they were raped.

More than 100 college students attended the event and many were moved to tears by the exhibit. Aisuluu writes they “were impressed because they did not know that such kind of bad things are happening in our country. I think we have changed their opinion about clothing stereotypes because we saw their shocked eyes.” She continues on to say, “Before (doing this project) I was always afraid of people’s opinion and what they will say. But after this I’m sure that we should not sit in silence and wait (for) when such kind of issues in our country will disappear - we have to stand and speak up because if not we, then who will do it?”

Sample of the clothing exhibit: An outfit paired with each victim’s story.

Students react to the exhibit.

Aisuluu (left) invited ZERE (right), a popular Kyrgyz singer and feminist, to speak at the event. She was happy to support the cause.