​The pilot, now a refugee who had lost everything in the war, shared his story with quiet sadness. He told me he no longer knew who he was—bombs had taken his home, his work, his family photographs—his past and his future. I couldn’t give him back what was lost, but I could listen. And as an artist, I felt it was my responsibility to share his story, and the stories of so many others like him, with the world.

With the support of a small but dedicated crew in Turkey, we set out to go beyond statistics and show the human face of displacement. We met dentists, doctors, teachers, and other skilled professionals—people whose talents could enrich any community, yet who were struggling to rebuild their lives. We also met children whose laughter had been silenced by the deep emotional, physical, and psychological wounds of war.

My background as an impressionist painter helped me connect with refugees through art, giving them a safe space to express their pain and loss. Those moments were as much about healing as they were about storytelling. The Two Million is my way of honoring their courage, preserving their dignity, and carrying their voices forward. I believe that when we truly see and hear each other, compassion grows—and from compassion, real change becomes possible.

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— Victoria Derin Isikman (Baratka)