About Me
Meltem Arıkan was born in Ankara in 1968. Her first short stories and essays were publishedbetween 1992 to 1995 in various literary journals. Her first novel, “Ve… Veya… Belki” (And…Or… Maybe), was published in 1999. Unfortunately, her fourth novel, Yeter Tenimi Acıtmayın(Stop Hurting My Flesh), was banned in early 2004 by the Turkish government. The ban waslifted after prolonged legal fighting, and Arıkan was awarded the “Freedom of Thought andSpeech Award 2004” by the Turkish Publishers’ Association.
In 2013, The Turkish authorities claimed her play ‘Mi Minor, performed in 2012, was anincitement that resulted in 2013 in the Gezi Park demonstrations.
Their subsequent hate campaign, fuelled by state-sponsored media, forced her to leave Turkeyto escape life in imprisonment. She chose to settle in Wales, a country she has always felt drawn to.
Arikan was nominated for the ‘Freedom of Expression in Art’ award by the Index on Censorship.Arıkan’s many books and theatre plays received multiple awards and widespread recognition inTurkey. She wrote twelve books, nine of which were novels. She also wrote five theatre playsand a short opera libretto for the “Eurotopia” project organised by Theatre Freiburg in 2017.Her articles on autism, censorship, violence against women, the digital world, and existentialismhave been published on internet portals such as News Junkie Post, Index on Censorship,Kazete and Gazete Davul since 2011.
She was diagnosed with Autism /Asperger at the age of 52; since then, She has been workingtirelessly to break the barriers and prejudices that neurodivergent encounter and share her lifeexperience with the public.
The Autism diagnosis has been liberating for her. She realises that her wiring system makes itharder for her to do things that come naturally to others. On the flip side, it is essential to beaware that Asperger’s gives her magical perceptions that many neurotypicals are incapable of.Her decision to come out with her diagnosis was due to the desire to raise awareness of the Autism spectrum, which is lacking even today.
Believing that the path to psychological and bodily health should be; “designed personally,”according to individual needs, I have been studying and researching different methods to help inthe therapeutic process, including “Understanding Autism”, “Advanced awareness of Autism” and “Hypno-CBT”… I joined many workshops and was able to work with experts in their field,such as “Mindfulness” Jon Kabat Zinn and Eecart Toll. ‘Shamanic Journey for Guidance andHealing’ from Sandra Ingerman. Lately, she gained the “Cognitive-Behavioural HypnotherapyDiploma” from The UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy, accredited by the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the General Hypnotherapy Register, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy and approved by the British Psychological Society. (Please click the link to see all the training and learning activities).
For fifteen years in Turkey, Arikan provided “Human Resources”, “Effective Communication”and “Body Language” training to many institutions and organisations such as banks, charity,political parties and politicians. She was forced to leave her position as chairman and partner inthe Architecture, Project and Consultancy Company to flee Wales with her son as an Exile.
She currently works as a full-time Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapist, Mindfulness and Art-based Counsellor, Author, and Groove Dance facilitator in Wales.”
BOOKS
1999, And… Or… Maybe…, (Arkadaş Publications (4th edition, 2011)
2000, Yes… But… As If… Arkadaş Publications (4th edition, 2011)
2002, Undressing Herself, Arkadaş Publications (6th edition, 2011)
2003, Stop Hurting My Flesh, Arkadaş Publications (7th edition, 2011)
2005, You Exist In No Way, Everest Publications (5 editions, 2005-08)
2006, Hope is a Curse, Eksik Parça Publications (5 editions)
2008 The Body Knows, Destek Publications
2009, The Tempest of Yearning, Yitik Ülke Publications (3 editions)
2012, The Tempest of Yearning, Shkupi Publishing House (translated to Albanian by Ahmed Quazimi published in Macedonia)
2015, Erospa, Akılçelen Publications
2018, Tek Bildikleri Aşktı, Eksik Parça Publications
2020 I Confess, I’m Guilty, Kekeme Publications
2023 You Are the Medicine, Kindle Books
PLAYS
2007, I’m Breaking the Game, 10+ (premiered at the Zurich Theater Spectacle)
2009, Parallel (dramaturgy), 10+ (premiered at Linz 2009: European Capital of Culture program)
2012 – 2013, Mi Minor, İstanbul
2017, Enough is Enough, Wales
2019, Y Brain / Kargalar, Wales
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2004, “Freedom of Thought and Speech Award ” by the Turkish Publishers’ Association for Stop Hurting My Flesh
2007, “New Unique Play” prize by Lions Theatrical Awards for I’m Breaking the Game
2012, Mi Minor, “Best Play of the Year” prize by Readers of Radikal Newspaper
2013, Mi Minor , “Best Play of the Year” nomination at Lions Theatrical Awards
2014, “Freedom of Expression in Arts Award” shortlisted by Index On Censorship
2019-2020, “The First Elan Valley Creative Wales Fellowship”
FEATURES AND EXHIBITIONS
2014 October, Birds and Words, Roath Park, Terranova Cafe / Wales
2015, Special edition of ARTiculAction “ Manipulated Everyday ” ARTiculAction Art Review
2020 April, CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader and District) Rhayader Museum and Gallery Featured Artist.
2023 May, Wye Art Center ‘Thanking with Colour’ exhibition