Monument for 100 Years of the Gaziantep

Monuments hold a special place in the scientific conception of history because of their ability to give one a sense of experiencing the past in the present. This is because monuments allow one to confront one’s past while simultaneously reconstructing history in a way that represents a certain worldview. As a holistic work of art, the monument excels in its ability to communicate not only with individuals but also with the masses.

The traditional cult of the monument fails to go beyond the mere representation of a historical person, event, or action. However, making people think about the person, event, or action in question and memorializing history as if it were happening in the present should be part of the monument’s purpose.

Our proposal aims to make Monument Square a part of Gaziantep’s cultural route by defining it as a starting point on the urban scale. The monument, which is located in the square on the axis of the entrance courtyard of the Panorama Museum and is an extension of the museum, marks the beginning of the cultural route and functions like an open-air museum in terms of its positioning and organization. On the route from the entrance courtyard to the monument, the sensory appeal of the square is enhanced through landscape interventions, strengthening the relationship between the monument and the museum. In our design, commemoration ceremonies and events are envisaged to take place in the landscaped area.

The monument consists of modules and the repetition of these modules. While the modules represent anonymous heroes, their repetition emphasizes that mobilization, rather than individuality, is at the forefront and underscores togetherness. Therefore, the Defense of Independence ceases to be the struggle of one or a few individuals and is appropriated by the people. The fragmented texture of the monument, which harmonizes with the tectonic façade of the Panorama Museum, unites in patterns and becomes singular at the summit, conveying the message that all heroes are one. Beyond its function of representing names, the monument embodies each anonymous character who took part in the defense of Antep.