Sculpture defaced with paint in Turkey’s northwest

BURSA

A sculpture in the Nilüfer district of the northwestern province of Bursa made by a Vietnamese artist has been defaced with paint. The sculpture, titled “Being Free,” was made by Van Hoang Huynh for the International Kuzgun Acar Sculpture Symposium in 2011 and has been on display ever since.

The unknown vandals attacked the sculpture with black paint, drawing widespread criticism. 

“This is an attack against art and culture. The artist who made this sculpture should be respected,” said Nilüfer Mayor Mustafa Bozbey from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), adding the sculpture was a “precious work of art.”

“I condemn the ones who staged this attack. I condemn attacks on sculptures. I believe that the people of Nilüfer will protect their sculptures and works of art,” he added.  

Another sculpture made in the symposium in 2011 by Ukrainian artist Gutyrya Vyacheslav called “Adam and Eve” was also defaced. 

Similarly, a sculpture in a subway station in the western province of İzmir was recently defaced twice for being “obscene.”

The sculpture, titled “Musician,” by Spanish artist Amani Gonzalez Andres was repaired and replaced after the first defacement, but was vandalized a second time. The attacks on the sculpture were widely condemned by Turkish social media users. 

“Musician” was made within the scope of the International Sculpture Competition with the theme “Mediterranean” in 2012. It was replaced again during an event attended by 15 local and foreign sculptors who had come to the city for the 3rd International Sculpture Workshop.

Andre, condemned the attack on his work as “a sign of regressivism in Turkey.” Speaking to daily Birgün newspaper, Andres said he would be taking part in the restoration of the statue.