The Dead-End of Public Art in Turkey: The Excess of "themed City Sculptures"-City Symbols

Abstract

In recent years, public art in Turkey has been transformed into a branding tool and reduced to mere decoration to promote cities. Large-scale models of products and values associated with the region are strategically placed at intersections on main roads. Decisions regarding these "themed city sculptures"-city symbols-appear to be solely at the discretion of politicians, with their mechanical production monopolized by a few commercial enterprises. While these city symbols are proudly showcased, they face criticism from artists, architects, and urban planners for their aesthetic shortcomings, and are often ridiculed on social media. The problematic nature of presenting city symbols as public art arises from their isolated location on vehicle roads, hindering interaction with their surroundings and viewers. Despite evoking Pop Art sculptures, with their unusually sized figurative depictions of everyday objects, these symbols, lacking an intellectual and artistic creation process, pose challenges in being accepted as works of art. On the other hand, labelling city symbols as kitsch and the subsequent lack of serious consideration have impeded addressing the root causes of the problem. A comprehensive analysis can only achieve a viable resolution to this deadlock in Turkish public art. Consequently, this article evaluates city symbols within the context of public art, Pop Art and kitsch, aiming to answer the question: What prevents city symbols from being regarded as works of art?