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 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. History. 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. On Sept, 13 1973, the sketches and photos sent by the 20 selected artists are approved by the  board members of the committee. Context in Turkish sculpture. 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. 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. Dramatic fate of the sculptures. 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). 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.