'The Face of the Republic' exhibition from the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation: Turkey's past, present, and future

Samet SAĞLAM- 12punto.com.tr

The exhibition was organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic and to convey the developments of that era. The work focuses on the 'Early Republican Period,' covering the years between 1922 and 1942. Bringing elements from that period in cultural disciplines such as literature, music, graphic design, architecture, performing arts, visual arts, museology, and archaeology to the present day, the exhibition conveys the spirit of the era by offering visitors original works, documents, and digital experiences.

Realized with the contributions of the Borusan Foundation, the exhibition houses over 500 original and digital works from the collections of various cultural and art institutions, galleries, personal archives, foundations, research centers, official archives, and universities. The exhibition is brought to life by the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation, drawing inspiration from its corporate values and the founding ideals of the Republic.

NOTABLE DETAILS

The exhibition is curated by İzzeddin Çalışlar, while Prof. Dr. Haluk Oral serves as the project consultant. The exhibition highlights developments in the fields of culture and art, as well as significant breakthroughs during the early years of the Republic.

The exhibition features items such as the fact that Afghanistan was the first state to recognize Turkey, Afghan King Amanullah being the first foreign head of state to visit Turkey, a solid gold gift presented to Atatürk by the Parliament, a video of Nâzım Hikmet reading his epic of the War of Independence via artificial intelligence, and important objects such as boots and a suitcase belonging to İsmet İnönü.

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

The exhibition also includes an area where visitors can listen to the music of the period. Additionally, a letter opener gifted to Atatürk, which features the inscriptions of the Republic of Turkey (TC) and the Republican People's Party (CHP), draws attention.

The exhibition also presents works related to "5 Minutes," Turkey's first film, and a film detailing the preparation process of the exhibition.

THE MOST VALUABLE WORK IN MONETARY TERMS

Furthermore, a portrait by Abdülmecit Efendi draws attention as the most valuable painting in the exhibition in 'monetary' terms. It was learned that the upper right and middle right parts of the painting were restored as they did not survive to the present day.

With its rich content, the exhibition sheds light on Turkey's 100-year history. The exhibition can be visited every day of the week except Mondays, between 11:00 and 20:00.

News Source: Samet Sağlam