Describe the characteristics of the Güzel İstanbul Affair in this artwork's Erection and removal.
Other nude sculptures had previously been installed in public areas of Istanbul, and around this time there were numerous nude sculptures on display in İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum. None of these had been found indecent or objectionable or caused any controversy. It has been suggested the officials involved Duyar's commission had not anticipated the sculpture's nakedness would cause controversy. The installation of Duyar's sculpture was met with an immediate backlash and calls for its removal by politicians due to its perceived indecency, particularly by members of the National Salvation Party, traditional conservatives who were part of the recently formed coalition government. The ensuing controversy and public debate, which was precipitated by major media outlets and fueled by prominent Turkish political figures, is referred to as the Güzel İstanbul Affair (Güzel İstanbul Olayı).An anti-Güzel İstanbul campaign occurred in the media; for 10 days, the press described the sculpture as indecent and erotic. The newspaper Sabah presented strong opinions; on 21 March 1974 it printed a front-page article that said the sculpture was corrupting the morals of Muslim Turks. This led to the sculpture appearing on the government's agenda; Deputy-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan stated it was immoral, and on 17 March suggested its removal. The Minister of the Interior, Oğuzhan Asiltürk, said the sculpture should be removed because it disgracefully represented Turkish mothers. The mayor of Istanbul Ahmet İsvan stated he disliked the sculpture because he found it tasteless, not because it was a nude. The Governor of Istanbul Namık Kemal Şentürk stated he was unable to judge the sculpture on an artistic level but that the choice of location had been wrong and thus he had the sculpture removed.Republican intellectuals and others defended the sculpture and its right to remain, leading to an intense debate. Seyhun Topuz, a sculptor who also participated in the 50th Anniversary sculptures, said Güzel İstanbul almost ended Turkey's less-than-two-months-old governing coalition. The CHP (Republican People's Party), the other party in the coalition, supported the MSP (National Salvation Party) position the sculpture is indecent to avoid political friction. In doing so, the CHP took a position that opposed its own views and ethical values. Scholar Hüseyin Gezer defended the sculpture's right to stay and stated there is a "difference between a naked woman and a nude sculpture".
Turkey nude Oğuzhan Asiltürk State Art and Sculpture Museum Hüseyin Gezer Ahmet İsvan Namık Kemal Şentürk Sabah Necmettin Erbakan Republican People's Party National Salvation Party recently formed coalition government Istanbul Seyhun Topuz İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum traditional conservative Muslim Turks