Mayor's wax creations on display in Eski?ehir

Turkey's first wax statue museum is in the central province of Eski?ehir. Mayor Y?lmaz Büyüker?en is the name behind all the statues in the museum as well as many others around the country When he's not busy running Eski?ehir, Mayor Y?lmaz Büyüker?en is known to dally in his other favorite pursuit: making wax sculptures. Now, Central Anatolia's favorite Renaissance man has begun showing off his latest creations at Turkey's first wax sculpture museum, which, appropriately enough, is named after him.

"Unforgettable actress Marilyn Monroe, the well-known late Turkish author Ya?ar Kemal as well as journalists and television producers are among the statues," Büyüker?en said.

"Late artist Zeki Müren's first wax statue is in Eski?ehir, too. His clothes were donated to the Turkish Education Foundation after his death. I received samples of these clothes and our own tailor made them. Our museum is the first in Turkey and has drawn many tourists," he said about the Y?lmaz Büyüker?en Wax Statues Museum in Eski?ehir's Odunpazar? district, which features 160 statues.

Also in the collection are Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his family members, various Turkish and foreign statesmen, artists, media members and athletes.

 Opened in 2013, the museum has so far received 1 million visitors, while the revenues from the museum are donated for the education of girls and those with disabilities.

Büyüker?en's start in making wax sculptures is legendary. The mayor visited London's Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in 1996, only to view an Atatürk sculpture that bore little resemblance to the father of modern Turkey. Realizing that he could create a better Atatürk sculpture on his own, Büyüker?en rolled up his sleeves to do just that.

"Late...