Güzel İstanbul
Güzel İstanbul (Beautiful Istanbul) is a concrete public sculpture of a nude female figure by Gürdal Duyar that is located in Yıldız Park in Istanbul, Turkey.
| Güzel İstanbul | |
|---|---|
| Oh Beautiful Istanbul | |
Güzel İstanbul in the Yıldız Park (c.2020) | |
| Artist | Gürdal Duyar |
| Year | 1974 |
| Medium | poured concrete |
| Dimensions | 4.8 m × 1.7 m × 1.5 m (190 in × 67 in × 59 in) |
| Weight | 7,000 kilograms (15,000 lb) |
| Condition | damaged, parts missing |
| Location | Karaköy Square, Istanbul (formerly) Yıldız Park, Istanbul |
The sculpture was commissioned in 1973 as one of 20 sculptures installed in Istanbul as part of an initiative by the Istanbul Municipality to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. Güzel İstanbul represents Istanbul as a nude female figure; its plinth was adorned with figurative motifs referencing the history of Istanbul.
Güzel İstanbul was originally located at Karaköy Square. Several Turkish media outlets and traditional conservative politicians considered the sculpture obscene and called for its swift removal. In March 1974, a controversy surrounding the sculpture's installation temporarily strained Turkey's governing coalition. Following nine days of intense public debate, Güzel İstanbul was removed from its plinth and toppled on 18 March. It was significantly damaged and abandoned, and remained in Karaköy Square for over a month. On 2 May, Güzel İstanbul was moved to Yıldız Park, where it was re-erected on a makeshift plinth. As of 2023, the sculpture remains in Yıldız Park; no conservation work has been undertaken to return the work to its original condition.