50th Anniversary of the Republic Sculptures

In May 1972, the Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the Republic Celebrations, gathered at the Istanbul Governors headquarters and initially they wanted 50 sculptures to be created to celebrate the 50 years however due to lack of funds they reduced the number to 20.[1]

On Sept, 13 1973, the sketches and photos sent by the 20 selected artists are approved by the board members of the committee.[1]

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.[2]

The project to create 50 sculptures for Istanbul within the scope of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Turkish Republic 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, which initially set out to create 50 sculptures, were 20 sculptures erected in Istanbuls public spaces by important sculptors which reflected their original sculpting style.[2]

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Surprisingly, 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).[1]

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.[6]