İzmir Mask Museum

Description

A boutique museum showcasing the history and artistic aspects of mask culture, from the death mask of master of Turkish literature Aziz Nesin to Anatolian ritual masks.

Story

The İzmir Mask Museum, located in a restored historical Levantine building in Alsancak, is one of the most interesting boutique museums brought to the Konak district by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. The museum, opened in 2011, focuses on the history of mask art and its cultural and ritual uses. The museum exhibits masks under four main themes: **Anatolian Selection** (traditional ritual masks), **Ethnic Masks** (examples from world cultures), **Theater Masks**, and **Those Who Left a Mark**. The 'Those Who Left a Mark' section is what makes the museum unique; it displays the death masks of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, Nazım Hikmet, and most importantly, **Aziz Nesin**. This adds great depth to the museum not only artistically but also in terms of recent political and literary history. The Mask Museum shows how rich İzmir's modern cultural life is, focusing not only on classical historical structures but also on contemporary art and specific cultural themes. It offers a modern cultural break point among historical buildings on Alsancak's lively street. It is a specific, modern indicator of İzmir's art and cultural life.

Visit Tips

• The museum is generally free; check current hours.
• Pay special attention to the 'Those Who Left a Mark' section and Aziz Nesin's death mask.
• It is within walking distance of Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street and Kordon in Alsancak.
• There is a gift shop section and a small cafe inside the museum.

Photos