Ah, Güzel İstanbul. What stories could this concrete sculpture tell if it could speak? Commissioned in 1973, Güzel İstanbul was part of a grand initiative. The Istanbul Municipality aimed to celebrate the Turkish Republic’s 50th anniversary with art. Twenty sculptures were to be placed in public spaces.
Güzel İstanbul represents Istanbul as a nude female figure. Gürdal Duyar, the artist, bound her arms with a chain. This chain symbolized the defensive barrier across the Golden Horn. It also represented the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Duyar saw Istanbul’s beauty reflected in the female form. The sculpture’s plinth featured reliefs of pomegranates, figs, honeysuckle, and a bee. Pomegranates meant Istanbul’s legends. Figs stood for its divinity. Honeysuckle captured its air. The bee showed its population density and dynamism.
Initially, Güzel İstanbul stood in Karaköy Square in 1974. But controversy quickly erupted. Some media outlets and politicians deemed it obscene. The Güzel İstanbul Affair ensued with intense public debate. After nine days, the sculpture was toppled on March 18. It was significantly damaged and abandoned.
On May 2, Güzel İstanbul found a new home in Yıldız Park. There, it was re-erected on a makeshift plinth. Over time, Güzel İstanbul suffered neglect. Conservation work was never done to restore the sculpture to its original condition.
In 2017, the Istanbul Municipality obscured Güzel İstanbul with saplings. Parents complained about its visibility from a playground. Social media outcry led to their removal. Gürdal Duyar remained silent about the controversy. He believed his role was creating sculptures. Removing or changing them fell outside his expertise.
Today, Güzel İstanbul stands as a testament to art, controversy, and changing perceptions. It also represents the complex relationship between art and society. Its survival, despite the challenges, speaks volumes about Istanbul’s evolving identity. This sculpture serves as a reminder of the city’s rich history.