The Cultural Awareness Foundation (CAF) has completed the restoration of artist Kuzgun Acar’s (1928–1976) artwork titled Abstract Composition (Birds), which he finished exactly forty years ago and installed at the Istanbul Textile Traders’ Market (İMÇ).
Back in 2008, volunteers from CAF, supported by the Yapı Kredi Tangram Team and the Private Sector Volunteers Association, had successfully carried out a cleaning project for Republic-era artworks located at İMÇ. The project was later announced to the public through the book "From İmece to İMÇ", prepared by the İMÇ Management. However, one important element was missing: the restoration of Kuzgun Acar’s Abstract Composition (Birds) sculpture.
In 2013, CAF's management relaunched efforts to restore the sculpture, beginning a search for both a qualified restorer and financial resources. A Scientific and Advisory Committee consisting of art historians, restorers, and sculptors was formed to oversee the restoration and conservation work. Expert opinions were also sought from academics at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ) and Istanbul University.
Financial support came from two friends of the foundation: Op. Dr. Oya Bayrı and artist Canan Bozbağ. Thanks to their support—alongside the contribution of Faruk Pekin, CAF’s Honorary President and a close friend of Kuzgun Acar—the necessary funding was secured. With the backing of the İMÇ Management and Fatih Municipality, the sculpture was carefully removed from the wall and transferred to a workshop in Mecidiyeköy.
Following initial assessments and reports, the sculpture was handed over in the spring of 2014 to Asst. Prof. Özer Aktimur, a faculty member at MSGSÜ’s Department of Restoration. However, upon closer examination, it became clear that the sculpture had suffered far greater damage than initially expected after nearly forty years outdoors. Fragile, crumbling parts, overlapping paint layers, intertwined bird nests, trash, and thread remnants led the Advisory Committee and Asst. Prof. Aktimur to revise the entire restoration and conservation process.
Working day and night, holding successive meetings, and navigating the emotional connection built with the artwork, the team exceeded the original schedule. Different techniques had to be tested, and rumors began to circulate in public, claiming the artwork had been “stolen” or “destroyed.” Finally, after approximately a year and a half, the restoration and conservation process was successfully completed. Kuzgun Acar’s unique piece regained the strength and grandeur it once held.
The next step was to share this monumental work and the dedicated restoration process with the public. With CAF's initiative, meetings were held with museum directors across Istanbul. The goal was to showcase Abstract Composition, to better communicate the importance of public artworks and Kuzgun Acar’s legacy, before returning the piece to its permanent location at İMÇ. The final major support came from the Sakıp Sabancı Museum (SSM). On June 24, 2016, the sculpture was presented to the people of Istanbul in a grand ceremony and a special panel held in the museum's garden.
The highly anticipated panel, moderated by Dr. Nazan Ölçer, featured the following speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Doğan Tekeli, one of the architects of İMÇ, where the sculpture belongs
- Faruk Pekin, KBGV Honorary President and a close friend of Kuzgun Acar
- Asst. Prof. Özer Aktimur, who led the restoration
- Metin Deniz, a stage director and friend of the artist
While on display in the SSM garden from June to October 2016, the sculpture also served as the backdrop for a mask theater performance organized by Emre Koyuncuoğlu, Sibel Horada, and Yasemin Nur, who brought together a group of performers. The play, titled Punta Atmak, was inspired by the street art movements of the 1970s, in which Kuzgun Acar himself was involved. These collective practices of art-making were reimagined and performed in front of the sculpture, overlooking the Bosphorus, on the nights of October 13, 14, and 15, 2016.
After a five-month exhibition in the SSM garden, the sculpture was finally returned to its original location on November 20, 2016, thanks to the meticulous work of the Simurg team and the logistical support of Fatih Municipality. It was remounted on the wall of Block 1 at İMÇ, reclaiming its rightful place in Istanbul’s urban memory.
To share all stages of this significant restoration and conservation project with the public, a website was launched at:
www.kuzgununkuslari.com