Staircase to Politics
A few weeks ago, a simple work of street art intended to bring color, life, and smiles to the streets of Turkey quickly became a country-wide political statement. On August 26, with the help of his son-in-law, 64-year old Huseyin Cetinel painted 145 stairs connecting the Findikli district to Cihangir the color of the rainbow. His intention: "to make people smile." But his work went way beyond a smile. He was famous for his painting - it became the backdrop of many photographs: professional, snapshots, tourist. He was also an unintentional activist and hero for the LGBT community. All of the hubbub caught government officials ears and they were fast to act, converting the rainbow stairs back to the original dreary grey color a mere four days later. But, this only spurred the fire. Activists rallied against the government effort, painting many of the other staircases throughout Turkey in bright and multicolored patterns. The government did eventually repaint the original rainbow staircase to represents Cetinel's original efforts. This indecisive back and forth really brings to question what is actually political, what are true public rights, and what is being done just as an effort to increase all around happiness? |
| Centinel with his master piece |
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| A government cover-up... |
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