The Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation is hosting the Face of the Republic exhibition at Galataport O2 Block. The exhibition focuses on the multidimensional social transformation during the Early Republic Period and its impact on culture, art, and social life. It opened on November 1, 2021, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic and will run until March 3, 2024. The exhibition specifically highlights the years 1922-1942 and showcases cultural disciplines and social life such as literature, plastic arts, music, graphic and architectural design, performing arts, museology, and archaeology.
The exhibition focused on the themes of “establishment” and “liberation”, which served as inspiration for artistic creation during and after the War of Independence. It included contributions from various cultural and artistic institutions such as Salt, Istanbul Research Institute, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ministry of Culture Film Archive, Yapı Kredi Historical Archive, Semiha Berksoy Opera Foundation, and İnönü Foundation. The exhibition showcased over 500 original and digital works, documents, and ephemera from personal archives, research centers, official archives, universities, and galleries.
The project consultant of the exhibition, curated by İzzeddin Çalışlar, is Prof. Dr. Haluk Oral. The exhibition design of the Face of the Republic was carried out by PATTU. Additionally, within the scope of the exhibition, a documentary film directed by Selçuk Metin will also be presented to the audience.
Zeynep Hamedi, the Chairman of the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation’s Board of Directors, said, that the exhibition is organized in honor of her late father, Asım Kocabıyık, who was the foundation’s Founding and Honorary President. He believed in the principle of “I have a debt of gratitude to this country, and I have worked all my life to pay it forward”, which is reflected in the foundation’s corporate values. The exhibition was created to showcase the social contribution areas of the Kocabıyık Foundation. Hamedi expressed gratitude to the supporters, business partners, and all business units of the Foundation who contributed to the realization of this valuable project. They hope that the exhibition will inspire new generations.
