Two Works:
Catafalque – The Drama of Death, Anıtkabir – The Carving of the Great Death

Two Architects:
Bruno Taut – Emin Onat

• On the anniversary of Atatürk’s death, he is commemorated through an event that examines and presents two architects who thought architecturally for him and the two works identified with Atatürk through them.
• The exhibition includes architectural and artistic documents related to these structures. Prof. Afife Batur notes that most of the original documents and projects of Anıtkabir have been lost, and emphasizes that this situation should serve as a warning to everyone. The exhibition presents what remains of Anıtkabir’s original project along with newly produced architectural documents.
• The book published under the title “Thinking for Atatürk” is a monographic study on Anıtkabir.
• Throughout the exhibition period, documentary films related to Atatürk’s Katafalque and the ceremonies of his transfer to Anıtkabir are screened.
  
  Istanbul commemorates Atatürk not through conventional memorial ceremonies, but with a series of events of high scientific and artistic quality. Within the scope of the events titled “Thinking for Atatürk,” documentary exhibitions, symposia, documentary films, concerts, and the publication of two scholarly books are included. Held under the auspices of President Süleyman Demirel, and realized through the collaboration of the ITU Faculty of Architecture, the University of Konstanz, the Institute for Oriental Studies (Orient Institut), and the German Cultural Center, the events are organized by Milli Reasürans and supported by Anadolu Hayat.

Prof. Afife Batur, who serves as the scientific director of the events, explains the title “Thinking for Atatürk” as follows: “Many intellectuals and artists have thought, designed, and produced works to explain Atatürk’s personality and achievements. However, among what has been conceived for him publicly, two—more precisely three—architects and artists occupy a place distinct from all others. What sets them apart is that they designed the structures in which Atatürk would temporarily rest and ultimately be laid to rest after his death. As is known, Bruno Taut designed the Katafalque, and Emin Onat together with Orhan Arda designed Anıtkabir. They conceived Atatürk through architectural symbolism, through a structure. As a result, first the Katafalque and later Anıtkabir became identified with Atatürk in public memory and collective consciousness.”

Within the “Thinking for Atatürk” project, the Katafalque and Anıtkabir were examined architecturally and artistically following six months of work carried out by a seven-member team. In addition, through extensive archival research, the biographies and works of Bruno Taut and Emin Onat were compiled. Significant portions of the structures were examined on site. The results were organized into an exhibition and compiled into a book, which is presented with a foreword by Prof. Doğan Kuban.

Prof. Bruno Taut and Prof. Emin Onat are among the founding figures of modern Turkish architecture. Through these events, these two important scholars are commemorated together with their works.