A Visit to the Zeki Muren Art Museum
Kevin
I recently visited the Zeki Muren Art Museum during a trip to Bodrum, Turkey – Zeki Müren Sanat Müzesi in Turkish. The late Zeki Muren was a renowned singer, composer, actor, and poet. He is probably best known for his music and silky smooth singing voice. Muren was born in Bursa on December 6th, 1931. He passed away on September 24th, 1996 at the age of 64 in Izmir. Beyond being a prominent and accomplished artist during his life, Zeki Muren remains a cultural icon in Turkey.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture restored Zeki Muren’s Bodrum home and opened it to the public as a museum on June 8th, 2000. While the house is not at all small and has lovely sea views, it struck me as being a relatively modest home for someone of Muren’s stature as a famous artist. Muren lived in the house during the latter years of his life.
The residence is a two-story building with a small, gated garden. According to the museum’s website, Muren was confined to the lower level in his later years due to poor health. The lower level is decorated as Muren’s home would have been. I noticed that the furniture appears to match the items in various photographs throughout the museum. The upper level is decorated with pictures, portraits, abstract paintings, and historical artifacts from Muren’s life.
Several of Zeki Muren’s outfits are on display throughout the museum. Many of Muren’s stage costumes were unique and flamboyant; reminiscent of Elton John, Liberace, and Elvis (during the “Comeback” era).
Zeki Muren was a talented and charismatic artist. He was a notable figure during his life and remains a cultural icon today. If you find yourself in beautiful Bodrum, I recommend stopping by the Zeki Muren Art Museum and having a look around. You can find more information, including open hours and ticket prices (just 6 TL as of April 2019) at the Turkish Museums website.
Categories: Activity