The unveiling of Turkish artist Doğan Karakılıç’s recreation of Guatemalan sculptor José ‘Pepo’ Toledo’s masterpiece, The Angel of Peace, took place at Safa Park.
THE ceremony was attended by Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Guatemalan Ambassador Eduardo Hernández, Director General of Latin America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yaprak Balkan, sculptor José ‘Pepo’ Toledo, and artist Doğan Karakılıç.
THE REIGN OF PEACE, NOT WAR
In his speech at the event, Mansur Yavaş expressed his pleasure that such a famous and meaningful piece, after being recreated in other cities like Washington D.C., Geneva, Mexico City, and Guatemala City, is now permanently located in Ankara. “Despite the growing conflicts, this artwork highlights peace, friendship, mutual understanding, and cooperation,” Yavaş said, adding: “We want a world where peace, not war, reigns, where human rights and dignity are upheld, the environment and nature are protected, and future generations can live in safety.”
SHARED SIMILARITIES
Guatemalan Ambassador Eduardo Hernández described Turkey as a friendly and negotiation-driven country that solidifies its message of peace in a lasting way. He expressed hope that the long-standing friendship of over 150 years of diplomatic relations would serve as an example of how nations share more similarities than differences.
Sculptor Toledo, who traveled from Guatemala specifically for this event, said that peace is a level of tolerance and unity that allows societies to overcome natural, economic, or other forms of disasters.
