art.wikisort.org - Sculpture

The 50th Anniversary of the Republic Sculptures are 20 sculptures erected in Istanbul that were created by selected Turkish sculptors in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. The sculptures were erected in the various parks and squares of Istanbul around 1973. Many of the sculptures were damaged, destroyed, lost, or moved and only a handful of them remain today.

It was difficult for Turkish sculptors to get exposure in the years between 1950 and 1960. What sculptors need is for their sculptures to be displayed in public spaces. Sculptures, other than monuments, were not really present until 1973.[1]

In May 1972, the Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the Republic Celebrations, gathered at the Istanbul Governors headquarters and initially planned to create 50 sculptures to be created to celebrate the likewise 50 years, however due to lack of funds they reduced the number to 20.[2] On 13 September 1973, the sketches and photos sent by the 20 selected artists are approved by the board members of the committee.[2] The initiative was a turning point for Turkish sculpture. For the first time, sculptors were given a chance, outside the scope of monuments, to create sculptures for pre-determined locations. This allowed for a shift to modern sculpture from monumental sculpture. The result of the project were the 20 sculptures erected in Istanbuls public spaces by important sculptors which reflected their original sculpting style.[1]

Many of these 20 sculptures met a dramatic end or were disturbed, damaged and/or removed from their location, some not even few days after they were erected. Güzel İstanbul, by Gürdal Duyar, is removed from its foundation at Karaköy square, being found 'indecent', and is removed to the Yıldız Park being damaged in the process; İşçi by Muzaffer Ertoran becomes the targeted in attacks; the fate of Nusret Sumans Mimar Sinan is unknown; İkimiz by Namık Denizhan is removed due to 'damage from external factors'; Birlik by Mehmet Uyanık, becomes the victim of a municipal compressor gun in 1986; Yükseliş by Bihrat Mavitran is sacrificed to road construction in 1984; Yağmur by Ferit Özşen suffers natures wrath; the abstract composition by Füsun Onur is removed during Bedrettin Dalans Municipal tenure in 1985; the abstract sculpture by Seyhun Topuz collapses due to 'natural causes' in 1984; the abstract sculpture by Tamer Başoğlu disappears in 1986; the abstract sculpture by Yavuz Görey is believed to have been stolen for its material (bronze) and similarly the abstract sculpture by Metin Haseki disappears for its material (copper).[2][3][4]

Sculptures

The 50th Anniversary Sculptures[5][6]

Image	Name/Type	Location	Date	Sculptor	Notes	Ref(s)
	İşçi Heykeli (Workers Statue)	Tophane	c. 1973	Muzaffer Ertoran	It was attacked and damaged for years and eventually removed in 2016.	[7][8][9][10]
	Güzel İstanbul (Beautiful Istanbul)	Karaköy Square (10 March - 18 March 1974) Yıldız Park (3 May 1974 - present)	10 March 1974	Gürdal Duyar	It was removed from Karaköy and damaged in the process after public debate about its appropriteness. Later it was moved to Yıldız Parkı where it was eventually re-erected.	[11][12][13]
	Yağmur (Rain)	Arnavutköy Akıntı Burnu	c. 1973	Ferit Özşen	It was removed in 1987 when the road parallel to the beach was widened.	[3][14][15]
*A sample of Hasekis style. Not the actual sculpture.	Abstract: Negative Form	Gümüşsuyu Park, Dolmabahçe	c. 1973	Metin Haseki	It was stolen the same day that it was inaugurated.	[3][16]
	Abstract:Yükseliş (Ascension)	In front of the Hilton Hotel in Harbiye.	c. 1973	Bihrat Mavitan	It was lost in 1979 during the construction of a preferential road.	[3][17][18]
	İkimiz (The Two of Us)	Taksim Gezi Park	c. 1973	Namık Denizhan	It was removed following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état.	[3][19][20]
	Abstract	Maçka	c. 1973	Haluk Tezonar		[18][21]
	Abstract	Bebek Park	c. 1973	Ali Teoman Germaner		[22][23]
	Bahar (Spring)	Emirgan Park	c. 1973	Hakkı Karayiğitoğlu	It was first placed in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality; then it was removed and placed in a few different locations and finally to in front of the Yellow Kiosk in Emirgan Park where it is today.	[24][25][26]
	Abstract: Dayanışma (Solidarity)	Fındıklı Park	c. 1973	Zühtü Müridoğlu		[23][27]
	Abstract: Yankı (Echo)	Gümüşsuyu Park	c. 1973	Hüseyin Anka Özkan		[28]
	Abstract	Fındıklı Park	c. 1973	Füsun Onur	It was removed in 1985 during organisations of the Fındıklı Park.	[3][29][30]
	Abstract	Taşlık Park, Beşiktaş	c. 1973	Yavuz Görey	It was destroyed in 1984 when struck by a lorry.	[3][30][31]
	Birlik (Unity)	Barbaros Boulevard, Beşiktaş	c. 1973	Mehmet Uyanık	It was removed in 1986.	[32][33]
	Mimar Sinan (Mimar Sinan)	Saraçhane Park, Fatih	c. 1973	Nusret Suman	It was lost in 1980.	[3][34]
	Abstract	4. Levent	c. 1973	Seyhun Topuz	It was removed during roadwork.	[35][36]
	Figür (Figure)	Orduevi Garden, Harbiye	c. 1973	Zerrin Bölükbaşı	It was first erected infront of the Muhsin Ertuğrul stage and later found its self in the garden of the Harbiye Orduevi with its expansion. At some point it was moved to behind the İstanbul Radyoevi where it stands today.	[37][38]
	Abstract: Bediha Muvahhit Anısına (In Honor of Bediha Muvahhit)	Yenikapı, Fatih	c. 1973	Tamer Başoğlu	It was stolen.	[3][39][40]
	Abstract: Tavus (Peacock)	Gülhane Park, Eminönü	c. 1973	Kuzgun Acar	It was removed from Gülhane Park in 1984 by the Parks and Gardens Directorate.	[3][41]
	Çıplak (Nude)	Gülhane Park, Eminönü	1973	Kamil Sonad	It was removed during renovations of the park.	[3][42]

Recent events

In 2011, 7 of the sculptures were cleaned and restored in the scope of the "sculpture project". Hüseyin Anka Özkans Yankı was worked on for 6 hours under the consultancy of Dr. Üzlifat Özgümü and at the end was reportedly restored to its original state. Within the scope of the restorations the sculptures to be restored till the end of 2012 are the Abstract in Maçka, Bahar in Emirgan Park, the Republic 50. Years Monument in Galatasaray Square, Dayanışma in Fındıklı Park, Figür in front of the Muhsin Ertuğrul Theater, and the abstract sculpture at Bebek children's park.[43]

References

Sources

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