Ideological reflections of the health and sports cult in the early republican period sculptures in Turkey

Abstract In the 19th and 20th centuries, countries such as Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union, which wanted to create strong nations and restore the health of their people affected by wars, epidemics, and poverty, believed they could prove their power in the international arena. Thus, these countries used sports as a tool for their ideological purposes. The close relations that the Turkish state established with Germany in many areas, starting from the last period of the Ottoman Empire, continued with the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. By the 1930s, Germany became the pioneer in sports and physical education and set an example for Turkey. State‐controlled art production reflected the health and sports policies implemented by the National Socialists in power in Germany during these years, and a style using exaggerated anatomies emerged, especially in statues. In Turkey, statues influenced by the Nazi style, the revival of European interest in Ancient Greece, and Turkey's own sports and health policies manifested the emphasis on “health,” “sports,” and “strong body.” This study analyses how the sculptures of the period expressed these concepts. The article reveals that similar forms were repeated in the sculptures, that the monuments were designed for ideological/militaristic purposes rather than artistic concerns, in an effort to reflect a “healthy and strong Turkish nation.”