Afra Nur Ugurlu

Hinterland is a zine that addresses the question: How does the Turkish diaspora navigate prevalent representations?Rooted in the understanding that visual communication is as powerful as language in shaping contemporary consciousness, the zine serves as both a tool and a space for reimagining and challenging dominant narratives. By choosing this format, Hinterland creates an accessible and participatory platform, offering a space where stories of identity, belonging, and cultural negotiation can be voiced and explored outside the confines of traditional academic or mainstream media frameworks.

The zine is structured into two interconnected sections. Part One is a deeply personal exploration, entirely conceived and created by me, where I investigate how identity, representation, and third spaces intersect within the lived experiences of the Turkish diaspora. This section presents three key projects—Paper Cuts, The Anatomy of Perception, and Borderlines—each designed to navigate these themes through intimate, visual, and narrative storytelling. Together, they lay the conceptual and emotional foundation of the zine, inviting readers to engage with the nuanced realities of diasporic identity.

Part Two expands the scope, incorporating contributions that bring fresh perspectives and diverse experiences. While the contributors were guided by the overarching themes of the project, their works reflect distinct interpretations that both align with and extend the ideas explored in Part One. This section serves as a dialogue, enriching the exploration of representation, belonging, and reclamation with new voices and creative visions.

As both a curatorial piece and a study of lived experiences, Hinterland offers a cohesive tapestry of micro-narratives that reflect the complexities of diasporic life. The design is carefully structured, with opening double spreads acting as reflective pauses that frame and guide the reader’s journey. While grounded in theory, the zine avoids being overly text-heavy, instead embracing a balance of intellectual depth and accessible storytelling.

The cover art captures the zine’s essence through a bold mixed-media composition: a torn passport image shaped into a devil overlays a scanned German passport, stitched together as a striking visual metaphor for identity fragmentation and reclamation.

Through its thoughtful structure and evocative design, Hinterland becomes more than a collection of stories—it is a critical and creative act of self-representation. It invites readers to engage with the multifaceted narratives of the Turkish diaspora, offering a lens to reflect, challenge, and reimagine the boundaries of identity and belonging.