GURAY MUSEUM
Located in Cappadocia, one of the most outstanding cultural, historical, and natural world heritage sites, Avanos has earned its reputation as a center of pottery since the time of the Hittites. A rich history dating back to centuries ago and the traditional craft of pottery that has been passed down through generations are the unique characteristics of this old town. Visitors from all parts of the world had pointed out the lack of a museum that would display the historical development of this traditional craft. Taking this into account, we decided to establish a museum, as part of our social and cultural responsibilities, to fulfill this necessity and bestow a valuable gift upon future generations. Incorporating both contemporary and traditional artworks from world-renowned Turkish sculptors into our existing collection, we have been able to present the historical development of the art of ceramics.
In line with these purposes, the Güray Museum was founded in the district of Avanos based on contemporary museology concepts. The museum consists of various exhibition halls, recreational facilities, and other service units carved out of rocks 20 meters below the ground surface and spreads over an area of 1600 m². It is the world’s first and only underground ceramic museum in terms of its architectural structure and concept.
The museum houses a rich collection of terracotta artworks, as well as small findings, and consists of three major sections.
The first section is the hall where the Antique collection is displayed. The layout of this exhibition is chronological and includes a collection of ceramic artworks and pottery from the Late Chalcolithic period, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. The collection was gathered based on scientific research and represents fragments from the phases of ceramic development in Anatolia from ancient times to the present day. Furthermore, local ceramic artworks from different geographical regions of Anatolia give a holistic insight into the development of ceramics in the region.
The second section is the exhibition hall for Contemporary Collections. Here, world-renowned contemporary and traditional ceramic artists trained in Turkey showcase their works.
The third section is an art gallery where artists can present their work in various fields of Fine Arts, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and photography. This section consists of an exhibition hall, a library, a cafeteria, and a lounge with a fireplace.
Open year-round, the museum provides visitors with a wonderful museum experience during the day and serves as an excellent venue for private events such as seminars, symposiums, cocktails, Sema performances, and concerts at night. The building can accommodate up to 400 people for these activities. Under the large dome in the center of the antique collection hall is a platform, which serves as a stage for these events. The platform can be raised 1 meter and spins when needed. Additionally, the museum’s kitchen can be used for food conservation, cooking, and serving purposes.
