ŞAR-I ŞAHMERAN
ŞAR-I ŞAHMERAN stands in Istanbul as a sculpture by artist Haydar Akdağ. It brings Anatolian folklore into a public city setting through the figure of Shahmeran. The legendary being appears in traditional stories as half woman and half snake, associated with wisdom and healing. Its contemporary form connects an ancient tale with Istanbul’s streets, squares and everyday surroundings.
The sculpture belongs to Şahmeran 34, an exhibition bringing together interpretations by thirty-four artists. Works appear at Mecidiyeköy and Taksim Squares, as well as along Bağdat Street. These locations turn familiar public spaces into open-air galleries where art meets daily urban life. The project also supports scholarships for girls through the Grow Your Dreams initiative of the Istanbul Foundation.
Shahmeran gives this artwork its lasting image: a woman’s form joined to a snake’s body. That meeting of myth, sculpture and Istanbul’s public spaces keeps the old story visible in the present.
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