Ankara State Painting and Sculpture Museum Opened Again

The Ankara State Painting and Sculpture Museum, whose restoration was completed, was reopened with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. The opening ceremony was attended by Vice President Fuat Oktay and President of the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that the Museum hosts 3 thousand 629 artifacts.

Reminding that the museum opened its doors 90 years ago for the first time, Minister Ersoy noted that this deep-rooted past contains a process from the administrative and economic memory of the young Republic to the memory of art that reflects the understanding of aesthetics and elegance of the Turkish nation.

Stating that Atatürk's Address to Youth was written on a marble board in Latin letters for the first time almost a year before the alphabet revolution and was placed in the entrance foyer of the museum, the first Turkish Language Congress was held here under the chairmanship of Atatürk, as one of the most important examples of cultural diplomacy. He stated that the first Turkish opera "Özsoy", composed to strengthen relations with Iran, was staged here for the first time.

Culture and Tourism Minister Wayne, "It seems that Art and Sculpture Museum that Turkey Furnace Building, Turkey's national ideas will shape the future of the Republic, the politics, the foundations of art from the language of the social formation and has been one of the places that are declared. Ankara Painting and Sculpture Museum is the symbol of a journey that begins with art and continues with art. This building is the life of a painting. In the competition opened in 1926, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk approved the project by appreciating the watercolor painting drawn by architect Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu and specifically asked for the use of Turkish ornaments in the building and the work of Turkish workers in its construction. As a result, the foundations of the work were laid in the area known as Namazgah Hill in 1927 and it was completed in 1930 as a unique monument of the First National Architecture Period. used the expression.

"Art Made This Artwork Its Own Home"

Stating that the purpose of the construction of the building, which is one of the most prominent cultural and art houses in the history of the Republic, was to start serving as the Turkish Hearth Central Building, Minister Ersoy drew attention to the fact that it has hosted the works of many institutions from Ankara Public House to Ministries for 46 years.

"In those years, in addition to important meetings and ceremonies, concerts, theater, opera and ballet performances took place in the magnificent hall of the building from very early periods, and art started to make this work that it inspired." Minister Ersoy reminded that the building was transferred to the Ministry of Culture in 1976, and after the completed restoration works, it started its new period as Ankara State Painting and Sculpture Museum on April 2, 1980.

"The Most Comprehensive Maintenance-Repair Process in the History of the Building"

Minister Ersoy stated that in 2017, they started the project design studies for the reinforcement and depots in the building in the first place, that the doors were open to the visitors during this period, and that they started the extensive restoration works on April 7, 2018 and temporarily closed the museum.

Minister Ersoy explained the work done in the museum as follows: “I would like to state that the building is the most comprehensive maintenance and repair process in its history. Starting from the area where it was established, a delicate activity was carried out by handling the garden, exterior, entrance section, exhibition halls and transition areas in great detail, and our building has been renovated for many years. The magnificent concert hall has also been reactivated. The old warehouses where the collection was kept were improved and electronic storage systems with high protection against theft, fire and floods were put into operation. In addition, exhibition and arrangement studies were carried out in line with modern museum principles. Finally, all the works in the museum inventory were photographed and documented, and this information was transferred to digital media and a serious archiving study was carried out. Our museum, which is also a work of art in itself, has been given a structure that we can confidently and proudly entrust our future generations with all its works. "

"Turkey is the Most Important Art Museums"

Emphasizing that the place is one of the basic elements that cannot be ignored in museum business, Minister Ersoy pointed out that the State Painting and Sculpture Museum is a unique cultural asset, reflecting the architectural and ornamental characteristics of the Seljuk, Ottoman and Republic periods.

Minister Ersoy said, “In our collection, there are 2 thousand 780 paintings and 226 sculptures invaluable, and our museum contains 3 thousand 629 works together with Turkish Decorative Arts, ceramics, original prints, caricatures, photographs and ethnographic elements. Thanks to this distinguished collection, all art lovers can observe the development process, subtleties and differences of Turkish art in different branches. Undoubtedly, Painting and Sculpture Museum in Ankara, Turkey's most important art museums. " he spoke.

"Timeless Traces Exhibition Will Stay Open for One Year"

Stating that the museum exhibits 7 works in Osman Hamdi Bey Hall, 32 in Hoca Ali Rıza Hall and 20 in İbrahim Çallı Hall, Minister Ersoy stated that they presented the temporary exhibition "Traces without Time" prepared in honor of the artists due to the opening. .

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said, “The exhibition, which includes the history of our building, the story of its transformation into a museum, and information about artists and statesmen who are of great importance to our art history, will be open for a year. I invite everyone to our museum from here. " said.

"I wish my gratitude to our president"

Stating that a mini concert will be given due to the opening of Atatürk's 101st anniversary of his arrival in Ankara, Minister Ersoy, celebrating this historic day once again in the person of Ankara residents, celebrating Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades, saint martyrs and veterans, He commemorated his third year İstiklal Poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy with mercy, respect and gratitude.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the Republic for his interest and support in all our work. I commemorate our esteemed architect Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu with mercy and respect. " Using his statement, Minister Ersoy thanked everyone who contributed to the maintenance, repair and arrangement works, especially his colleagues, and wished the new year to bring health, prosperity and peace.

After Minister Ersoy's speech, a short video describing the history and restoration work of the museum was presented. The ceremony ended with a mini concert organized for the 101st anniversary of Atatürk's arrival in Ankara.