Mehmet Aksoy

Mehmet Aksoy (* 1939 in Hatay, Turkey) is a Turkish sculptor who has long lived and worked in Germany.

Aksoy studied sculpture in Turkey, England, Italy and Germany. From 1972, he lived with short interruptions, until the 1990s in Berlin, where among other things he founded the Turkish academics and artists' association and managed. During this time, under his management, a comprehensive book about the life and work of Nazim Hikmet, who is completely bilingual appeared in German and Turkish.

Aksoy created for the West German public space, among other things, the 1989 Bonn and Potsdam monument to the unknown deserter and the "People in the City" of the human landscape of Berlin.

Aksoy, who received art awards in Germany and Turkey, currently resides predominantly in Turkey.

Finally, the 35 meter high and 1500 ton sculpture İnsanlık Abidesi originated in the eastern Anatolian city of Kars ( monument of humanity) that calls for reconciliation between Armenians and Turks. Because of the location of the monument is controversial historical reasons, the works were interrupted and challenged in 2011 by Prime Minister Erdogan, the demolition of the largely completed monument. The demolition of the artwork began to Erdoğan's arrangement the end of April 2011., The artist compared the action with the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan by the Taliban. Aksoy, who has previously defended himself against the demolition, as well as residents of Kars and other artists announced protests. The destruction of the sculpture came inside and outside of Turkey with harsh criticism.