Monument in İzmir receives two awards from England

ISTANBUL

The Monument of Atatürk, His Mother and Women’s Rights Monument in İzmir’s Karşıyaka Square, which was renewed this year and reached a height of 41.7 meters, received two grand awards at the International Property Awards held in England. 

Professor Tamer Başoğlu, who made the monument in 1972, received the award together with Karşıyaka Mayor Hüseyin Mutlu Akpınar with whom he carried out the renovation works. The monument is symbolic of İzmir and of women’s rights. 

At a ceremony on Oct. 25 in London, Başoğlu and Akpınar were presented the two International Property Awards, which are the Best Multi-Purpose Area of Use in Europe and the Best Community Service. 

There are embossed figures depicting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his mother Zübeyde Hanım and figures symbolizing Turkish women, one carrying bullets and educated Turkish women (teachers, jurists, chemists), who gained the right to vote and who stood for election at the beginning of the Turkish Republic and democracy.

At a national competition on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic in 1972, a decision was made to construct the monument and the structure was erected in 1973. 

Başoğlu has many iconic works all around Turkey. Among his best known works are the Middle East Technical University (METU) Science Tree, Edirne Lausanne Monument, Veliefendi Racecourse Atatürk Monument, Konya Ereğli Memorial, Atçalı Kel (Bald) Mehmet, Bakırköy Atatürk Memorial and Midhat Pasha Memorial. 

Born in 1938 in Nazilli, Başoğlu went to Italy with a scholarship after graduating from the Department of Sculpture at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts between 1954 and 1960. He followed the lessons of Biagio Poidimani at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome and attended Pericle Fazzini’s workshops. After Italy, he carried out professional research and investigations in various European countries until 1962. 

Since 1964, he has greatly contributed to the formation of architectonics style in sculpting arts in Turkey and has trained many sculptors during his academic life at the Istanbul State Fine Arts Faculty. The professor has also opened many exhibitions and received many awards.