Two separate solo art exhibitions consisting of 21 artworks of Kazakh artist Daurenbek Beknazarov and 22 artworks of Bahrom Ismatov were opened by Minister of Economy and Energy Hasan Taçoy.

According to the information provided by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, the Minister of Economy and Energy Hasan Taçoy, the Founding Rector of the Near East University. Dr. Suat İ. Günsel, vice-rectors, institute directors, deans, lecturers, artists, and invited guests attended the opening ceremony.

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ; “Bahrom Ismatov from Tajikistan, the country at the feet of the sun”
At the opening of the exhibitions, Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ gave information about the artists in his opening remarks; “Bahrom Ismatov is from Tajikistan, the country at the feet of the sun. Although the Tajiks show linguistic differences with other Turkic peoples of Central Asia, they have great cultural similarities with the other nations sharing kinship and cultural roots. We have important common values such as Abu Reyhan Biruni, Firdevsi, İbn-i Sina, Nasır-ı Hüsrev and Ömer Hayyam who are world-renowned in the field of science, philosophy and literature."

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ; “Daurenbek Beknazarov comes from Kazakhstan, from a civilization born in the steppe”
"Daurenbek Beknazarov is coming from Kazakhstan, a civilization born in the steppe. Kazakhstan is a country that has taken great strides in literature, music, cinema, theater, painting, architecture, museology and in other branches of art. The oldest form of being of the Kazakh people began to turn into folkloric elements in time and has reached to contemporary Kazakh art with various stages. Since the traces of the Kazakh legends of existence, the aesthetic quests extending to contemporary Kazakh art and the reflection of this development on the styles of Kazakh painting art, have constituted an important field of art. From a cosmic painting design to more concrete figurative insights, from there to the insights of changes in every context of abstract painting, Kazakhstan's painting extends from epic motifs to the most contemporary geometric projections. The common ideal of both artists is undoubtedly to support the efforts of the unification of the Turkic world through art in our country and to elevate Turkish Art and therefore world art in our geography. Of course, this supreme aim will be realized through the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art.”

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ; ’Nearly 1500 artists, 224 exhibitions and more than 20 thousand works in one year”
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ, pointing out the developments since the beginning of the project, said; "Cyprus Museum of Modern Art Project so far has engaged over 1500 artists from abroad, the number of works produced exceeds 20 thousand, the number of materials accumulated for all museums to operate on campus have reached 100 thousand materials, in the last 2 weeks of December, between 17-30 December, 29 exhibitions of which 21 of them are solo, dozens of artists and countless works are meeting art lovers."

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ; "Together with today's exhibitions, we will reach 224 exhibitions in a year and end 2019 with 228 exhibitions in total. Taking this opportunity I would kindly like to express my deepest gratitude to the architect of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art Project, our Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel, to Günsel family, to Minister Taçoy who always with us despite his busy agenda, and to you and all our artists, and I wish you pleasant moments in Beknazarov and Ismatov's solo exhibitions."

Bahrom Ismatov; "Every moment I spend in this atmosphere full of friendship and inspiration is priceless for me ”
Tajikistan artist Bahrom Ismatov, whose solo exhibition was opened, in his opening speech started by greeting the protocol and the guests and expressed that he accepted the invitation with great enthusiasm to participate in the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Project and that he was proud to be a part of such a project. Ismatov continued as follows; “It is an honor for me to be here with artists from all over the world. Every moment I spend on the territory of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in this atmosphere full of friendship and inspiration, is invaluable to me and I will never forget everyone who was with me at this time. I am grateful for offering me such an opportunity. I wish everyone success and prosperity."

Daurenbek Beknazarov; "I am happy to be in this project ”
Kazakh artist Daurenbek Beknazarov, whose solo exhibition was also opened, started his speech by saying good morning to all Cyprus as well as the protocol and guests. He expressed his gratitude to Suat Günsel for providing him with the chance to be there today. Daurenbek Beknazarov expressed his happiness for taking part in the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Project, saying “I wish you the most precious thing in life, a healthy and long life. I am so glad we have you! I would also like to thank our curators Sembigali Smagulova and Orazbek Esenbayeva. Welcome to the opening of my exhibition.”

Minister Taçoy; "With these works of art, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art has exceeded the peak”
Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy; "In this exhibition, we have faced a different philosophy, from the moment I entered the hall I have seen different works and I tried to revive."

Minister Tacoy; “I have seen and felt a lot of things in the painting I have looked at from where I sat. I have seen a different philosophy, a different event, maybe a conspiracy, and I have seen a figure coming out of the figure in this painting. It is a different event and a going towards somewhere. As soon as you enter the door, when you look at the paintings in front of you, you feel different things and you want to keep what you see inside. With these works of art, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts has surpassed the summit. It is a new area that the Turkish Cypriot people really need. I would like to thank everyone who contributed."

The artists were presented with the Dogdurbek award and the exhibition ribbons were cut
Following the speeches, Minister of Economy and Energy Hasan Taçoy gave the Dogdubek Nurgaziev Award", in memory of Kyrgyz State Artist Dogdurbek Nurgaziev as part of the Alasia Awards given to promising young artists, to Tajik artist Bahrom İsmatov and Kazakh artist Daurenbek Beknazarov.

The exhibitions can be visited at the exhibition hall of the Faculty of Dentistry of Near East University between 08.00-16.00 on weekdays until 03 January 2020.