Kartal Municipality in Istanbul, Turkey, organized the 1st International Stone Sculpture Symposium between 18 June-9 July 2011 in the Özgürlük Parkı (Freedom Park) of Kartal with the works of 11 esteemed sculptors. 

The applications were accepted until 18 June 2011 according to the symposium speciifications. Symposium Committee got together on 21 May 2011, evaluated all the eligible applications, carried out the selection in 3 difficult stages and 11 participants were selected, it was very difficult to evaluate 220  estimable sculptors with a large diversity of deserving proposals.The participants were evaluated by the code numbers given to each participant, hiding the artist's identity and personal information by an academic jury of 7 members from reputable Fine Arts faculties of Turkey. The selected artists and their works are as follows:

Hitoshi Tanaka (Moon Dance) Japan

Jiang Chu (Moving Scenery) China

Kamen Tanev (Links) Bulgaria

Kim BongSoo (Inherent in Vitality) South Korea

Lee Zih-Cing (Lights and Shadow Intertwined) Taiwan

Laszlo Lugossy (Stricken Nature) Hungary

Petre Petrov (Connection-disconnection) Bulgaria

Soner Özdemir (  ) Turkey

Teng Shan-Chi (Perfectly Clear) Taiwan

Ugo Antinori (Architecture of Memory) Italy

Wu Ming-Sheng (Entrance of the Paradis) Taiwan

The sculptures were made in white Marmara marble. The artists realized their proposed projects successfully at the end of the 3 weeks. All the symposium organization was carried out by Kartal Municipality in the management of Master Sculptor Niyazi Dedeoğlu. The necessary technical infrastructure, international and in city travel, accomodation and stone blocks were provided by the municipality.

The artists had the opportunity to participate in Kartal 28st Culture and Art Festival taking place from 17-26 June 2011 in Kartal square. They also visited the social establishment of Kartal Municipality in Büyükada (Prince Islands) to swim and take sun bath.

At the end of the symposium the participants were offered Kartal statuettes and certificate of appreciation by the Mayor of Kartal, Op.Dr.Altınok Öz during the closing ceremony open to public and press.

As the reward of the hard working weeks, the participants had a daylong trip to historical Istanbul peninsula and boat tour on Bosphorus in the evening.

The symposium area was the center of interest of Kartal dwellers during and after the symposium works thanks to the diversity and fineness of the sculptures.

Sculptures made for Kartal Municipality: