“Handing down our rich heritage to the next generations is a historic responsibility upon our shoulders”
10.06.2014
First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül hosted a reception at the Tarabya Presidential Residence on the occasion of the “International Symposium on Preventive Conservation”, which is under the patronage of the Presidency and which underscores the significance of conserving cultural heritage and handing it down to the next generations. The First Lady, during her speech, reiterated that “Turkey with its some 65.000 registered cultural assets and millions of works of art in its museums is one of the world’s richest open air museums.”
First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül hosted a reception at the Tarabya Presidential Residence on the occasion of the “International Symposium on Preventive Conservation”, which is under the patronage of the Presidency and which underscores the significance of conserving cultural heritage and handing it down to the next generations.
AWARENESS ABOUT CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL VALUES
Sharing her happiness to be with her guests in Istanbul, which she declared is a capital of culture with its natural beauties and historical and cultural richness, the First Lady said that “this land dating back to 12.000 years enjoys rare diversities of cultural richness. Turkey with its some 65.000 registered cultural assets and millions of works of art in its museums is one of the world’s richest open air museums. Conserving our rich heritage and handing it down to the next generations are historic responsibilities upon our shoulders, declared the First Lady, adding: “This is why we have from the very first beginning attached great importance to creating an awareness about the conservation of our heritage at the Presidency in this regard. The Presidential Palace has a very rich collection including works of art, silverwork, cutlery, china plates, historical carpets, furniture and priceless paintings and other objects from the time of Atatürk, but unfortunately, in the beginning, most of these valuable objects were not in good condition at all. Rare cutlery was coated with nickel and it almost altogether lost its originality. Oil paintings were coated with glass and framed and some of them even began to get mouldy. The frames which were originally gold-leafed were only painted with foil. In the inventory, we also found an object which was presented to the Ottoman Sultan by the then British King in the 19th century and we had it restored in England.”
STUDIES CARRIED OUT TO AMELIORATE OBJECTS
The First Lady further informed her audience that they unearthed the values that had long been left and forgotten in stores, adding: “We wanted these values to be recognized and to live for good, as our richness that remains hidden is forgotten in time. We, prior to launching the necessary conservation and restoration process, had done comprehensive research in the country and abroad as well. We spent hours in restoration ateliers in the basements of palaces during our visit to other countries. Through our research, we have gladly realized that in the restoration of carpets, porcelain and glass, Turkey enjoys a very good level. The atelier in Aksaray where we have got the carpets restored, for example, is one of the best in the world. It also restores the carpets of Buckingham Palace.”
When we realized that Turkey lacks human resources in terms of the restoration of paintings and frames, we decided to work with international experts, noted the First Lady, saying that they corresponded with many experts in France, Russia, England and Italy. After that, she said, they agreed to work in close cooperation with the Royal Museum of the Netherlands. In the meantime, continued Mrs. Gül, we transformed the places that were used as stores on the campuses of the Çankaya Palace and Tarabya Residence into conservation ateliers. In these ateliers, she noted, they carried out the conservation of the paintings and frames and added that they had them restored in the ateliers at Istanbul Mimar Sinan University.”
AMELIORATION OF CONDITIONS FOR STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND EXHIBITION OF OBJECTS
First Lady Gül further pointed out that they have also ameliorated the conditions for storage, transport and exhibition of the objects at the Çankaya Presidential Palace and noted that they have provided suitable amenities for these works in terms of storage and exhibition, adding that they have established modern storage areas with air-conditioning, illumination, shelf system and floor covering. “We have further conducted meticulous studies regarding transport systems for works and examined the systems of such great museums as Rijks, Metropolitan and Louvre. We also have determined the rules for the transport of objects and paintings. The conditions of all paintings that will be taken out of the Çankaya Presidential Palace are determined and registered; after that, these paintings are insured and carried in special boxes known as Turtle. Furthermore, our relevant staff have been trained about this new system.”
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DIGITAL CATALOGUING SYSTEM
Mrs. Gül later pointed out that another important step they have taken is taking advantage of the digital cataloguing system regarding the collection at the Presidential Palace and she referred to the RFID system. “Through a program that can be downloaded in computers, tablet computers and smart phones, one can access to the information about all the works in the inventory. Furthermore, through a voiced introduction system, the information about these works can be listened to in Turkish and English.”
The First Lady reiterated that their only objective in this process was to elevate the representation characteristics and institutionalization of the Republic of Turkey and she further offered her thanks to those who have contributed to the realization of the International Symposium on Preventive Conservation.
Attending the symposium held at the Tarabya Presidential Residence were the representatives of UNESCO, ICOM-CC, ICOMOS and ICORP, academicians from different countries, experts, artists and other invitees.
