How does this artwork elucidate its Design?
Duyar's concept was to create an allegory of Istanbul through a nude female figure whose arms would be bound by a chain, representing the defensive chain constructed by the Byzantine Empire to close off the Golden Horn from the Ottoman fleet in 1453. Duyar's portrayal of a woman attempting to break the chains was intended to represent the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, which was later renamed Istanbul. Duyar said he had identified Istanbul, his home city, with the natural beauty of the female body.In Duyar's final design, the female figure leans slightly backwards with her arms wrapped behind her, and her head is inclined backwards as she looks at the sky. The hands are shackled with a chain, which is not visible from the front. The upper part of the sculpture rests on a plinth that is decorated with reliefs depicting pomegranates, figs, honeysuckle and a bee. According to Duyar, the pomegranates in the relief represent Istanbul's many legends; figs its divinity; honeysuckle its air; and the bee its population density, dynamism and abundance. In addition to its historical and political symbolism, Duyar's work has also been interpreted as a universal representation of the emancipation of women. The sculpture, when first installed, was 4.8 metres (15.7 ft) high and used 7,000 kilograms (15,000 lb) of poured concrete.
conquest of Constantinople nude emancipation of women defensive chain Ottoman Istanbul poured concrete Golden Horn Byzantine Empire