Created especially for Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by 7 Artists from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the exhibition of 27 Art Pieces titled as “The Exhibition of Turkish-Azerbaijani Artists” has been opened by Minister of Internal Affairs Ayşegül Baybars…
Date Added: 01 August 2019, 08:40
Last Updated Date:06 August 2019, 14:13

It was announced that the exhibition of 25 art pieces especially created for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by 7 artists from Turkey and Azerbaijan was recently opened by Minister of Internal Affairs Ayşegül Baybars.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, the opening ceremony of the exhibition was held at Exhibition Hall of the NEU Faculty of Communication to which Minister of Internal Affairs Ayşegül Baybars, TR Representative Ambassador to Nicosia Kadir Akçeşme, Founding Rector of Near East University Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel, Rector of Özay Günsel Children’s University Prof. Dr. Filiz Meriçli, Vice Rectors, General Director of Near East Bank Selami Kaçamak, academicians, artists and guests attended.

It was pointed out that Vice Rector of Near East University Prof Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Head of Department of Industrial Product Design of Faculty of Fine Arts of Selçuk University Prof. Dr. İlham Enveroğlu and Minister of Internal Affairs Ayşegül Baybars each made a speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Provided details on the academic and innovative works of the University…
Making the opening speech of the exhibition, Vice Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ expressed that for the past 40 years, Near East University was the first to come to mind when education, science, health, innovation and art are mentioned within this geography. He added that, with its education and research experience, the Near East University currently used its energy to contribute to the economic, social, psychological and cultural development of societies at a local and global scale.

In addition to the above, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ emphasised that in addition to Near East University and University of Kyrenia, during the academic year 2018-2019, they had brought two other universities to life, one of which is directed at ages 60 and over “+60Age Group Refreshing University”; and secondly the first and only children’s university in Cyprus-“Özay Günsel Children’s University.”

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ assured that they, as the Near East University, will continue to invest in the future to promote the development of the country. Furthermore, he said that in accordance with the “Single Health Concept”, they offered health services without distinction between human beings, the environment and animal health; such that Near East University Hospital, Dentistry Hospital and Animal Hospital, in addition to University of Kyrenia Dr Suat Günsel Hospital and Dentistry Hospital, they offered health services via 5 hospitals at world standards.

Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ expressed how proud and happy they were for having 7 academicians in particular; 2 of which are Turkish Nobel Laureates, 5 out of the 100 Turkish leading scientists, and also for including 2 more well renown scientist within the last month. Furthermore, he emphasised that through art, they were forming an indestructible, robust bridge from Asia to the Mediterranean.

He stated that as part of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts project a total of 84 exhibitions have already been opened on campus in the last 9 months and with this one, the number would reach 85. He also said that now, there were 9 exhibitions available to visit on campus. He pointe out that the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts is to be opened on 15th November 2010 and therefore, Near East University will own 7 different museums-Cyprus Automobile Museum, Herbarium and Natural History Museum, National History Museum, Maritime Museum, Museum of Modern Arts, and Blade and Sword Museum.

Prof. Dr. Enveroğlu: “A New Turkish Identity Will Form with Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts…”
Speaking on behalf of the artists who participated the exhibition, Head of Department of Industrial Product Design of Faculty of Fine Arts of Selçuk University Prof. Dr. İlham Enveroğlu referred to the famous Russian writer Dovstyeski's words that expressed that beauty and love will save the world; and added that in order to protect beauty, a lot of responsibilities were placed upon the shoulders of artist, art protectors and art lovers.

Enveroğu: “If there is art and love in a place, it means that there are efforts to recover beauty in that place. I know that everyone who is here today feels this effort and responsibility. A new école is born here. It is not a simple museum or collection. We are in the most important business centre of the search for identity in Turkish art in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan in the 1950s. We know that a modern art identity based on its roots has not yet been completed. Nobody could afford this alone. Through the existence of this museum, a new Turkish identity is born in art. Thanks to Dr Suat Günsel the whole world will witness abstract expressions. Today we are living a period in which our art life is written in gold letters. I would like to thank everyone who participated in this project and for the opportunity offered to all of us!”

Minister of Internal Affairs: “With this step, winds of change are upon the Turkish Cypriot art identity…”
In her speech, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ayşegül Baybars, expressed many thanks to Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel for bringing about winds of change regarding art and culture which all contribute to the foundation of the Turkish Cypriot identity.

Furthermore, she said that she was proud to be acquainted with a person like Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel as he knows and understands that art is an effective means of transferring cultural development, integration, immortalization of feelings and thoughts of a society to future generations and since he made such great contributions to modern arts in Cyprus. She said: “In this regard, I would like to thank Dr. Suat Günsel and the Near East Family on behalf of myself and my government.”
She further asserted that art has always been a hope for humanity from the figures drawn by the first artists in the caves tens of thousands of years ago. She added that each artist represented a period in time and gave example from Picasso.

Ayşegül Baybars: “Thousands of people were wounded by the fascist Italian and Nazi forces attacking Guenica in 1937. Picasso, who witnessed this at the time, made a gigantic painting in order to convey this war, violence and chaos in his own country and to reveal those periods. This painting was a symbol of payoff and suffering cased by war. During that period, a German General asked Picasso whether he did that painting and that Picasso replied by saying “No, you did!” From this point of view, it is necessary to listen to the artists who describe the values, good and bad days of a country that made up the art, the events that left their mark in an artistic language. In order to leave much more beautiful works of art and culture, we need to build better and create policies that will lead society to prosperity and development.”

Minister of Internal Affairs Ayşegül Baybars ended her words by stating that He stated that the opening of the 85th exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art is one of the firsts that Cyprus has seen, and that these exhibitions are the light and hope of the future; and that she was very happy and proud to be a part of this.

Certificates of Gratitude were presented…
Subsequent to the speeches, it was said that certificates of gratitude were presented to the 7 artists by the Minister of Internal Affairs Ayşegül Baybars. Then, the opening ribbon of the exhibition was cut. It was announced that the exhibition, which includes different écoles and styles, will be available to visit until 9th August 2019 at 08:00-16:00 on weekdays at the exhibition hall of the Near East University Faculty of Communication.