Aksoy's sculpture moved to Avc?lar

Turkish artist Mehmet Aksoy's sculpture, which was removed on Jan. 7 from its spot for 12 years in Istanbul's Ümraniye neighborhood after a court decision that the location belonged to the General Directorate of National Property, will be placed in the Avc?lar neighborhood. 

After the removal of the sculpture, Avc?lar Mayor Handan Toprak contacted Aksoy, proposing to move the sculpture in an appropriate place in his neighborhood. The proposal was accepted by the artist and details will be discussed in the coming days. 

"We try to follow Atatürk, who said, 'Everyone can become president but not everyone can become an artist.' Avc?lar has always respected the arts and artists. We called Aksoy and told him that we would be pleased to see his sculpture in our neighborhood," said the mayor. 

Following the initial court decision, Aksoy asked the municipality if he could remove the sculpture himself. As the sculpture was loaded on a truck, Aksoy said, "Once again, another sculpture is removed, showing us the value of artistic environment in Turkey. We will take it to our own atelier. If no one knows its value, I know. Time will show what is valuable and what is not."In Photos: Snow produces picturesque scenes across Turkey after days of stormsIn Photos: At least 27 refugees' bodies wash ashore on Turkey's Aegean coast In Photos: Greek Orthodox Christians dive into cold water to retrieve holy crossIn photos: Turkey commemorates Rumi with 'Night of Union' ceremony in KonyaIn Photos: Ta?yaran Valley in Aegean region to become nature parkPictures released by the Armed Forces depict destruction in southeastern Sur amid clashes, curfewIn Photos: Marks of violence visible across Nusaybin after lifting of curfewIn Photos: Turkey celebrates Christmas Eve...