AKM Sculpture

The Atatürk Cultural Center stands as one of Turkey’s emblematic modernization projects in the realm of culture and art. Its existence reflects the state’s vision of culture and art taking architectural form, providing a space where social values and beliefs find expression.

All physical arrangements and hierarchical relationships among structural elements within the center are directly linked to societal values. The Atatürk Cultural Center’s enduring presence, despite intermittent interruptions since its initial construction, holds profound symbolic significance in the intersection of abstract ideals and material embodiment.

Our proposal aims to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Atatürk Cultural Center, a dominant feature on the eastern side of one of the city’s key squares, fostering a relationship with its surroundings and historical memory while enhancing spatial cohesion.

Space, Object, Memory, and Continuity
Henri Lefebvre queries, “Is everyday life […] a space where repetitions converge?” This contemplation leads to a rhetorical consideration of whether Heraclitus’ concept of perpetual flux conceals a fundamental repetition rooted in antiquity. This interplay between image and memory culminates in the perpetuation of the imaginary through repetition, shaping a perception of infinite temporality (Lefebvre 1998, 25). Thus, the experience of the world becomes holistic and continuous.

The traditional conception of social time, predating modernity’s emphasis on discontinuity, evokes a sense of completeness and flow evident in seasonal cycles and generational succession. Embedding memory within objects strategically placed in space allows for a journey through memory, where recollection becomes synonymous with encountering these artifacts.

AKM Ceramics
During the final stages of construction, ceramic artist Sadi Diren collaborated with the architect to design and implement ceramic compositions for both interior and exterior facades, as well as entrance doors. By integrating light and perception distances, Diren orchestrated ceramic modules into a cohesive whole, manipulating light and shadow to imbue depth and volume. This interplay transforms individual tiles into dynamic components that animate architectural spaces.

Memory, Continuity, and Sculptural Interpretation
Ceramics, integral to AKM’s identity throughout its history, are reinterpreted in proposed works as foundational elements of sculpture. This reinterpretation aims to preserve AKM’s symbolic continuity despite historical interruptions, linking past and present through structural elements and generational narratives. The presence of a tree within the installation area enhances its contextual significance, bridging physical space with symbolic meaning.

The foyer, serving as a formal and metaphorical nexus between AKM and Taksim Square, plays a pivotal role in the proposed work’s conception. By materializing thoughts into form, the artwork seeks to reconcile emptiness and fullness, juxtaposing these concepts to reveal their mutual dependence. Ultimately, the work aspires to unify these dualities, fostering a strong sense of continuity and collective memory.