50. yıl anıtı(50th-anniversary monument) and police barricades
The 50th Anniversary monument, built for the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, was designed by sculptor Şadi Çalık. The statue in Galatasaray Square is the symbol of the square.
1923 is the founding year of the Republic of Turkey and 1973 is the 50th year of the Republic of Turkey.
The sculpture shows the modernization and revolutions of the Republic as if rising from the ground and the centre, rising to the sky consisting of steel bars rising upwards in lines.
1923 is the founding year of the Republic of Turkey and 1973 is the 50th year of the Republic of Turkey.
The sculpture shows the modernization and revolutions of the Republic as if rising from the ground and the centre, rising to the sky consisting of steel bars rising upwards in lines.
The sculpture, which has a simple composition, creates a significant effect by standing firmly and strongly in the chaos of the square and Istiklal Street, catching the eyes of those around.
The reason sculpture and the square has been behind the police barricades for 5 years is tragic and comical since the sculptor aimed to show a robust, modern and hopeful republic.
The reason sculpture and the square has been behind the police barricades for 5 years is tragic and comical since the sculptor aimed to show a robust, modern and hopeful republic.
In 2018, as the ‘’Cumartesi Anneleri’’(Saturday Mothers) were preparing for the 700th Week meeting at Galatasaray Square. So the statue and its surroundings got closed with barricades, with an emergency instruction from the Ministry of Interior.
Cumartesi Anneleri/Saturday Mothers are the relatives or the families of those who were victims of unsolved political murders. Influenced by the Plaza de Mayo Mothers protests held in Argentina in the 80s, they have protested in Galatasaray Square every Saturday since the mid-90s. Although their protests were attacked by the police and they got detained many times, Saturday Mothers/Cumartesi Anneleri did not give up.
As of 2018, the barricades are setted up to keep the Saturday Mothers and other activists away from the Galatasaray Square and prevent any "discomfort for the tourists", as another indicator of the authoritarian government of Turkey. Barricades have not been removed for 5 years (except for a short term in 2021).
Now, behind the police barricades is the 50th Anniversary monument, saluting the republic with hope and symbolising its power and modernity. The police barricades and the monument's contrast denotes violent action, authoritarianism, police brutality and everything toxic about the ‘‘New Turkey''.
Cumartesi Anneleri/Saturday Mothers are the relatives or the families of those who were victims of unsolved political murders. Influenced by the Plaza de Mayo Mothers protests held in Argentina in the 80s, they have protested in Galatasaray Square every Saturday since the mid-90s. Although their protests were attacked by the police and they got detained many times, Saturday Mothers/Cumartesi Anneleri did not give up.
As of 2018, the barricades are setted up to keep the Saturday Mothers and other activists away from the Galatasaray Square and prevent any "discomfort for the tourists", as another indicator of the authoritarian government of Turkey. Barricades have not been removed for 5 years (except for a short term in 2021).
Now, behind the police barricades is the 50th Anniversary monument, saluting the republic with hope and symbolising its power and modernity. The police barricades and the monument's contrast denotes violent action, authoritarianism, police brutality and everything toxic about the ‘‘New Turkey''.
