Kenan Yontunç

Kenan Yontunç
Born	1904 İstanbul, Turkey
Died	1995
Education	Mimar Sinan University
Known for	Sculpture
Notable work	mostly Atatürk sculptures
Spouse(s)	Feriha

An example of his works: Atatürk Monument in Mersin

Kenan Yontunç (1904-1995) was a Turkish sculptor.

Life

Ahmet Kenan Yontunç was born, in İstanbul in 1904. He studied in the Sanayi'i Nefise Academy (later renamed Mimar Sinan University) and in 1923 travelled to Germany for further studies. He then returned to İstanbul and in 1930 he was appointed as an art teacher. In 1940 he was promoted to the rank of professor. When surname became compulsory in 1934 by the Surname Law, he chose the name Yontunç ( "sculptor"). He married to Feriha, the daughter of Kâzım Sevüktekin, a general of the Turkish War of Independence.^[1]

Works

In 1927 he created his first bust, a bust of Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic. He continued to create other sculptures of Atatürk. He was specialized in Atatürk sculptures and busts, partially because he was an acquaintance of Atatürk. In many Turkish cities such as Amasya, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, Çorum, Edirne, Silifke, Elazığ, Isparta, Kastamonu, Mersin, Kayseri and Tarsus the Atatürk monuments in the main meeting squares of the city have been created by Yontunç.^[2] One of his most notable busts is Atatürk's mask created just after the death of Atatürk in 1938. This mask became very popular and copies of it were sold nationwide.

In the 1940s he also created a number of sculptures of İsmet İnönü the second president of Turkey. In 1950s during the construction of Anıtkabir, he created both the reliefs and the dais ^[3]

Trivia

Fashion designer, Eda Taşpınar is Kenan Yontunç's grand-granddaughter.^[4]

References

1. Sabah newspaper interview with Kenan Yontunç's grandson (Turkish)
2. Biography page (Turkish)
3. Ministry of Culture page
4. Radikal newspaper article (Turkish)