MAMIHAN HALBIN ZIDAN

VAN-Amid the accelerating pace of life and its many preoccupations, a person sometimes needs nothing but moments of silence and calm to regain their balance and psychological comfort. From this standpoint, Hasret Ipek Altın, residing in Van in northern Kurdistan, found in candle-making a space for serenity and self-expression — a passion that accompanied her for years, before she turned it into a professional project inside her own workshop more than two years ago.

Through this project, Hasret Ipek Altın was not only able to turn her passion into a source of income, but also sought to provide a space for women that allows them to step away from the pressures of daily life and dedicate time to themselves. Between the glow of candles and the calm of the flame, she proceeds on her journey that combines production and beauty, while enhancing the value of women's work and the spirit of solidarity among women.

Hasret Ipek Altın is 39 years old, and has spent more than two years in candle-making and marketing, achieving through it a material income, and sharing with others the feeling of serenity she draws from watching the fire and contemplating its calm movement.

She believes that the human relationship with fire is still present despite the transformations life has witnessed, and that this connection is clearly manifested in the moments of silence and contemplation surrounding it. She explains that staring at the flame gives a person a feeling of mental emptiness, where thoughts calm and the mind falls silent, and from that moment a space of comfort and serenity emerges.

As for the name of her workshop, "Mumê," she drew inspiration from a legend circulating in Gölmermik (Hakkari), in an indication of her project's connection to cultural heritage and the symbols carried by popular memory. Hasret Ipek Altın recounts her story with fire and candle-making, speaking about the nature of her work and the shapes she creates, in an experience that goes beyond the limits of craft to become a means of spreading calm and beauty, and opening new horizons before women.

Hasret Altın hails from Çorum city, and moved to Van in 2007 to pursue her university studies, before marrying and settling there. After obtaining her doctorate, she temporarily stepped away from academic life and turned to candle-making and selling, a field in which she has been working for more than two years.

Her relationship with candle-making dates back to 15 years, as she found in it a means of comfort and clearing the mind, before turning her passion into a project that earns her income and allows other women to enjoy scented and unscented candles.

She believes that candle-making helps her get rid of life's pressures, and is like reaching a safe harbor after a storm. She explains that the difficulties of academic work, from studying and writing theses and articles to seeking others' approval, pushed her to introduce scents, colors, and the glow of fire into her life, in search of calm and regaining psychological balance.

"Lighting Candles Brings Peace of Mind"

Hasret Ipek Altın faced some risk when opening her workshop in Van, due to the absence of a similar project at the time. She spent six months explaining to people the importance of lighting candles, before she began gradually attracting customers.

She believes that candles are not just a means of illumination, but a means of maintaining the human connection with fire, which has accompanied humans for thousands of years, and a source of psychological comfort and serenity.

She explains that lighting candles in dim light helps calm the mind and reduce the chaos of thoughts, noting that her main goal is to achieve inner calm and create comfortable atmospheres away from the pressures of daily life.

She confirms that the value of her work is not limited to material return, but goes beyond that to getting to know people who possess elegance, tolerance, and love of beauty. She notes that her workshop, which opened two years and two months ago, has become a meeting place for people who appreciate art and literature and respect the effort made, noting that meeting them grants her psychological comfort and happiness that exceed the value of money.

Regarding the designs of her candles, Hasret Altın explains that she draws inspiration for the shapes and symbols she uses from her interest in history and legends. She is also keen to employ feminine forms in her works, based on her vision of beauty. "Woman is an aesthetic being, and it pleases me to add this beauty to candles."

"Struggle Is Deeply Rooted in Women's Nature"

Hasret Altın confirms that struggle is an integral part of a woman's life, as she is capable of multiplying her potential and giving, and turning what is in her hands into new opportunities. She believes that this ability is rooted in her nature, and is reflected in various aspects of her life.

She explains that women have always struggled for their rights, their children, and their families, and have also supported other women in their struggle. For her, women's struggle is not limited to grand causes, but extends to the details of daily life, as she remains preoccupied with thinking and planning even while doing household chores.

Hasret Altın organizes candle-making workshops inside her own workshop, allowing women to participate alone or with their friends, without being restricted to a specific number. She is keen to provide a calm space that helps participants get rid of pressures and exhausting thoughts, sometimes contenting herself with providing technical guidance and leaving them free to work in silence.

She confirms that her goal is for every woman to feel comfortable and belonging, and to leave the workshop with a piece she made with her own hands and a beautiful memory she keeps. She stresses that a woman is capable of turning any skill into a profession that enables her to earn her living.

Hasret Altın concludes her interview by saying: "Women's work must be present in all areas of our lives, must have value and appreciation, and must be an active and influential force."