Belonging, identity and place: An a/r/tographic research with convicted individuals

Belonging is a concept for analysing the phenomena that emerge as a result of the interaction of individuals with their environment. Research; it aims to reveal the participants' sense of belonging and how spatial limitations relate to their own life experiences. This thesis, based on the a/r/tography approach, covers the results of a research that lasted six weeks in Şırnak T-Type Closed and Open Penal Institution. The data consist of the researcher's diary, semi-structured interview form, participant work defence and the information obtained as a result of the researcher's observations. During the application, the participants were observed and recorded by the researcher and 4 participants were selected from 16 participants through criterion sampling. After these three applications, four semi-structured interviews were conducted with the four participants, and at the same time, the interview form was distributed to the participants and their written feedback was recorded. The data of the research were analyzed with thematic analysis method, living and autobiographical questioning, and the findings were interpreted according to the research goal. As a result of the activities of belonging in objects, letters, and wall painting, it was concluded that the participants' level of understanding the space the yare in was affected and they developed a positive sense of belonging to the space. Art education based on the a/r/tography method was conducted with participants who were not in the same service unit and was carried out in different venues depending on each participant. Ultimately, the study aims to provide a basis for future studies in this field by aiming to bring the comprehensive results of the belonging phenomenon to the literature. Keywords: A/r/tography, Belonging, Space, Identify, Art education.