'Art for Everyone Anatolian Exhibitions' in Afyonkarahisar: Reflection of the 'Great Victory'
We will be celebrating the 103rd anniversary of the Great Offensive of August 26th, the most significant event of the Turkish War of Independence, which played a crucial role in the founding of our Republic. On this important week, İş Sanat brought its Anatolian Exhibitions, a special selection from the Türkiye İş Bankası Artworks Collection, to Afyonkarahisar, sharing them with art lovers across Anatolia.
The “Great Victory” exhibition, which opened at the bank’s Kocatepe branch, was attended by Türkiye İş Bankası Painting and Sculpture Museum (RHM) Director Ayşe Canan Atlığ, art historian Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Köksal, and citizens.
The exhibition, which opened yesterday, can also be viewed today.
'FREEDOM WILL'Speaking at the opening, Türkiye İş Bankası RHM Director Atlığ gave a brief introduction to the works. Atlığ explained the purpose of İş Sanat's "Anatolian Exhibitions" as follows: "We wanted to expand our collection beyond Istanbul. The branches in Anatolia were essentially used as galleries at one time. Many of these works were presented to the local public in various branches across Anatolia. Therefore, inspired by this spirit, we launched our "Art for All Anatolian Exhibitions" project."
We consider August 26, 1922, the beginning of the Great Offensive, a moment we consider to be the beginning of our nation's will to freedom. Exactly two years later, on August 26, 1924, our bank was founded to ensure our nation's economic independence. Therefore, we commemorate this two-significant day with this opportunity.
'GREAT TRANSFORMATION'At the opening, art historian and Yeditepe University faculty member Associate Professor Dr. Ayşe Köksal described the works in the exhibition to visitors, emphasizing the significance of the works on display. "Actually, the works here are two-layered; one is Atatürk's portraits, and the other is a documentation of how the war was fought and won. This documentation draws on the artist's imagination. In the portraits and paintings, we see a process evolving from the Ottoman Empire to the founding of the Republic of Turkey. More than the war itself, the works here illustrate a specific and profound transformation," she said.
Organized on the 103rd anniversary of the Great Offensive, the exhibition reflects the respect and gratitude felt for all the heroes of the War of Independence, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The exhibition features works by Feyhaman Duran, one of the powerful portrait masters of the 1914 generation; Ayetullah Sümer, known for his misty and mystical landscapes; Nusret Karaca and Rahmi Pehlivanlı, known for their portraits of Atatürk; Ziya Duru, who depicted the Ahır Dağı Offensive during the War of Independence; and Mehmet Aksoy, one of today's leading sculptors.
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