50th Anniversary of the Republic Sculptures

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

Figür by Zerrin Bölükbaşı

It was difficult for Turkish sculptors to get their works seen in the years between 1950 and 1960; what sculptors needed was for their sculptures to be displayed in public spaces. There were very few public sculptures, other than monuments, in Turkey until 1973.[1] In May 1972, the Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the Republic Celebrations gathered at the headquarters of the Governor of Istanbul. It initially planned to commission 50 sculptures to mark the anniversary; however, due to limited funds the number was reduced to 20.[2] On 13 September 1973, the sketches and photographs sent by the 20 selected artists were 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 predetermined locations. This allowed a shift towards modern sculpture. The result of the project was 20 sculptures erected in public spaces in Istanbul by important sculptors which reflected their original sculpting style.[1]

Many of the sculptures were lost, damaged or removed (or both), some only a few days after they were erected. Güzel İstanbul, by Gürdal Duyar, was found by certain traditional conservatives to be "indecent"; it was removed from Karaköy Square and eventually taken to Yıldız Park. İşçi by Muzaffer Ertoran was targeted in attacks. The fate of Nusret Suman's Mimar Sinan is unknown. İkimiz by Namık Denizhan was removed due to "damage from external factors". Birlik by Mehmet Uyanık was demolished by a municipal compressor gun in 1986. Yükseliş by Bihrat Mavitran was destroyed for road construction in 1984. Yağmur by Ferit Özşen was damaged and eventually removed. Abstract sculptures which were lost include one by Füsun Onur which was removed during Bedrettin Dalan's municipal tenure in 1985, one by Seyhun Topuz which collapsed due to "natural causes" in 1984, and one by Tamer Başoğlu which disappeared in 1986, while those by Yavuz Görey and Metin Haseki were probably stolen for their bronze and copper.[2][3][4]

Sculptures
The 50th Anniversary Sculptures[5][6]
Image Name/Type Sculptor Location Medium Notes Ref(s)
 İşçi Heykeli
('Workers Statue')		 Muzaffer Ertoran Tophane Concrete Attacked and damaged for years and eventually removed in 2016 [7][8][9][10]
 Güzel İstanbul
('Beautiful Istanbul')		 Gürdal Duyar Karaköy Square
(10 March – 18 March 1974)
Yıldız Park
(3 May 1974 – present)		 Concrete Installed 10 March 1974. Removed from Karaköy and damaged in the process after public debate about its appropriateness. Later it was moved to Yıldız Parkı, where it was eventually re-erected. [11][12][13]
 Yağmur
('Rain')		 Ferit Özşen Arnavutköy Akıntı Burnu Iron Removed in 1987 when the road parallel to the beach was widened [3][14][15]
*A sample of Haseki's style.
Not the actual sculpture.		 Abstract: Negative Form Metin Haseki Gümüşsuyu Park, Dolmabahçe Copper Stolen the same day[3] or a week after[16] it was inaugurated [3][17]
 Abstract:Yükseliş
('Ascension')		 Bihrat Mavitan in front of the Hilton Hotel in Harbiye Aluminium Lost in 1979 during road construction [3][18][19]
 İkimiz
('The Two of Us')		 Namık Denizhan Taksim Gezi Park Concrete Removed following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état. It was removed by Denizhan himself after being damaged by external causes – or, according to some rumors, it was removed at the order of a colonel who was acting as the Mayor of Şişli at the time. [3][20][21]
 Abstract Haluk Tezonar Maçka Concrete Stands in its original location, As of 4 April 2021. [19][22]
 Abstract Ali Teoman Germaner Bebek Park Copper Stands in its original location, As of 4 March 2022. [23][24]
 Bahar
('Spring')		 Hakkı Karayiğitoğlu Emirgan Park Concrete First placed in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, then removed and placed in a few different locations, the last being in front of the Yellow Kiosk in Emirgan Park where it remains today. [25][26][27]
 Abstract: Dayanışma
('Solidarity')		 Zühtü Müridoğlu Fındıklı Park Concrete Stands in its original location, As of August 2019.[28] [24][29]
 Abstract: Yankı
('Echo')		 Hüseyin Anka Özkan Gümüşsuyu Park Sheet metal In 2012 the sculpture underwent conservation efforts.[30] Stands in its original location As of April 2019.[31] [32]
 Abstract Füsun Onur Fındıklı Park Aluminium Removed in 1985 during organisations of the Fındıklı Park [3][33][34]
 Abstract Yavuz Görey Taşlık Park, Beşiktaş Bronze May have been stolen for its material, disappearing around 1984;[35] or it was destroyed in 1984 when struck by a lorry.[3] [3][34][36]
 Birlik
('Unity')		 Mehmet Uyanık Barbaros Boulevard, Beşiktaş Concrete Removed in 1986 by being broken down with a compressor following a statement by the mayor of Beşiktaş calling the sculpture "unnecessary" and "meaningless". [37][38]
 Mimar Sinan
(Mimar Sinan)		 Nusret Suman Saraçhane Park, Fatih Concrete Lost in 1980 [3][39]
 Abstract Seyhun Topuz 4. Levent Iron Collapsed from natural causes in 1984; some years later it was removed entirely during roadworks. [40][41]
 Figür
('Figure')		 Zerrin Bölükbaşı Orduevi Garden, Harbiye Concrete First erected in front of the Muhsin Ertuğrul stage and later relocated to the garden of the Harbiye Orduevi with its expansion. At some point it was moved to behind the İstanbul Radyoevi, where it stands today. [42][43]
 Abstract: Bediha Muvahhit Anısına
(In Honor of Bediha Muvahhit)		 Tamer Başoğlu Yenikapı, Fatih Iron Stolen by scrap dealers[3] or was otherwise removed in 1986[44] [3][45][46]
 Abstract: Tavus
('Peacock')		 Kuzgun Acar Gülhane Park, Eminönü Iron Removed from Gülhane Park in 1984 by the Parks and Gardens Directorate [3][47]
 Çıplak
('Nude')		 Kamil Sonad Gülhane Park, Eminönü Concrete Removed during renovation of the park [3][48]

Recent events

In 2011, seven of the sculptures were cleaned and restored as part of the "sculpture project". Hüseyin Anka Özkans' Yankı was reportedly restored to its original state. As of September 2011, it was planned to restore 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.[49]

References
  1. Ece 2011, p. 13.
  2. Pelvanoğlu, Burcu. "Kamusal Alanda Çağdaş Heykel". sanalmuze.org (in Turkish). Virtual Museum. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  3. "İstanbullu Heykel Sevmiyor" (in Turkish). Cumhuriyet. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2022 – via Yapi.com.tr.
  4. Sönmez 2015, p. 34-35.
  5. Baron Von PLASTIK (17 July 2013). "İstanbul'da Güncel Arkeoloji: Cumhuriyetin 50. Yılı Heykelleri". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  6. Ece 2011, p. 16.
  7. "Sınıfın trajedisini yaşayan heykel". Aydınlık (in Turkish). 4 September 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2022 – via Aydinlik.com.tr.
  8. Ak, Behiç (17 April 2016). "İşçi Bayramı Yaklaşırken İşçi Heykelinin Kaldırılması". e-skop.com. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  9. Şendul 2021, pp. 52–53, 104.
  10. Sönmez 2015, pp. 119–120.
  11. Şendul 2021, pp. 40–42, 66–71, 93–94.
  12. Sönmez 2015, p. 120.
  13. Antmen 2009, pp. 366–374.
  14. Şendul 2021, pp. 37–38, 91.
  15. Sönmez 2015, p. 133.
  16. Şendul 2021, pp. 51, 65.
  17. Şendul 2021, pp. 50–51, 65, 103.
  18. Şendul 2021, pp. 36–37, 90.
  19. Sönmez 2015, p. 121.
  20. Şendul 2021, pp. 53–55, 105.
  21. Sönmez 2015, p. 152.
  22. Şendul 2021, pp. 44–45, 96–97.
  23. Şendul 2021, pp. 34–36, 88–89.
  24. Sönmez 2015, p. 122.
  25. "Hakkı Karayiğitoğlu: Sevgi ve Barış Anıtı". evetbenim.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  26. Durbaş, Refik (11 October 2008). "İstanbul'un heykel gündemi". Sabah. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  27. Şendul 2021, pp. 42–43, 95.
  28. Kaya, Can (21 August 2019). "Zühtü Müridoğlu'nun Fındıklı'daki Dayanışma heykeline uğradım..." Twitter (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  29. Şendul 2021, pp. 62–64, 113–114.
  30. "Hüseyin Anka Özkan'a ait 'Yankı' heykel konservasyonu". www.facebook.com. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  31. Bakkaloğlu, Başak (15 April 2019). "Hüseyin Anka Özkan-Yankı (Gümüşsuyu)". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  32. Şendul 2021, pp. 45–47, 98–99.
  33. Şendul 2021, pp. 39–40, 92.
  34. Sönmez 2015, p. 61.
  35. Şendul 2021, pp. 60.
  36. Şendul 2021, pp. 59–60, 110.
  37. "Saldırıya Uğrayan Heykeller". doganhasol.net. 10 April 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020.
  38. Şendul 2021, pp. 49–50, 102.
  39. Şendul 2021, pp. 55–56, 107.
  40. "Atölyeden içimin sıkıntısı boşalmış olarak çıktım". Milliyet. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020.
  41. Şendul 2021, pp. 56–57, 108.
  42. "Zerrin Bölükbaşı". İstanbul Kadın Müzesi. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  43. Şendul 2021, pp. 60–62, 111–112.
  44. Şendul 2021, p. 59.
  45. Şendul 2021, pp. 58–59, 109.
  46. Sönmez 2015, p. 153.
  47. Şendul 2021, pp. 48–49, 101.
  48. Şendul 2021, pp. 47, 100.
  49. ""Cumhuriyetin 50. Yıl Heykelleri" Onarılıyor". Istanbul. Haberler.com. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2018.

Sources
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