4 solo exhibitions consisting a total of 76 artworks exclusively made for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by Kyrgyz artists Gulnafis Mergenbayeva, Stalbek Toktoyev and Ulan Dzhaliyev, and Kazakh artist Nurlan Shilibayev, and the group exhibition consisting of 40 artworks of Russian artists Vera Frolova, Salavat Gilyazetdinov, Vagiz Shaikhetdinov, Khamza Sharipov, Sofia Asochakova, Igor Katonov, Duilustan Boitunov, Arzhan Yuteyev and Amyr Ukachin was opened by the Minister of Labor and Social Security Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu.
According to the press information provided by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of the Near East University, the opening ceremony of solo and group exhibitions of Kyrgyztan, Kazakhstan and Russian artists held at the Exhibition Hall of the Faculty of Communication were attended by the Minister of Labor and Social Security Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu, Founding Rector Dr. Suat İ. Günsel, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, directors of the institutes, instructors, artists and invited guests. At the opening of the exhibition, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Salavat Giliazetdinov on behalf of the artists of the Russian Federation, Kyrgyz artists Ulan Dzhaliev, Stalbek Toktoev, Gulnafis Mergenbaeva, Kazakhstan artist Nurlan Shilibayev, and Minister of Labor and Social Security Faiz Sucuoğlu made a speech.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ; "There is a lot to learn from artists"
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said in his opening remarks; "There is a lot to learn from artists, and yet, perhaps artists, painters, and sculptors of the world of fine arts can teach us the most about the creative process. There are many things that make it easier to determine exactly how a creative mind works in the singularity of working forms, working at the highest capacity. Creativity is often more than being different. Creativity for Charles Mingus is synonymous with recreating the simple one magnificently in the form of simplicity.
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ; "Artists do not wait for permission to paint or write or go on stage or sing; they do and go off. It is not their unique creativity skills that distinguish them from others and give them a purpose and force. What is more concerned here is that artists find a focus to make it the center of their creativity. Newton's words, "If I could see further, it's because I climbed the shoulders of these giants", refer to this state, I think...”
Courage and nobility are highest among artists
Şanlıdağ underlined that the artists are genuine and epic; "In the name of art, artists either move into a ceiling, or tie themselves to a mast in the midst of a storm, or go thousands of miles away to find out what they search for. They never compromise and have only one motivation. To create a meaningful and worthy work. Courage and nobility are at the highest level in artists. To support the artist is to invest in the future of society. Great leaders support artists by making special works in this field. Countries with great artists who can compete internationally have the power to make their voices heard in the world. It is well known by everyone how powerful is an artist internationally recognized."
"To date, nearly 1000 artists, 187 exhibitions, 20 thousand works for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts"
Stating that nearly 1000 artists from abroad have participated in the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Project, Şanlıdağ emphasized that many workshops have been held and 187 exhibitions have been opened so far, and the number of artworks created for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts have almost reached 20,000, and the total of artworks for all the museums have reached to 100,000. Şanlidağ; "We are witnessing the formation of a cultural treasure together.
Today, we are opening a group exhibition of Russian artists and four solo exhibitions of Kyrgyz artist and a Kazakhstan artist. We would like to express our gratitude to all of our artists for being part of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art Project. 192 Exhibition in the first year yet more! I wish many mores, and I salute you with respect..."
Salavat Giliazetdinov; "We are very impressed with your project and we hope that the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts will always exist"
Salavat Giliazetdinov, speaking on behalf of the artists of the Russian Federation; "I would like to welcome you to our exhibition on behalf of the artists representing the Ural Mountains, the Siberian forests and the Far East. It is a great pleasure and pride to be here today. The peoples of Yakutia, Altai, Mountain Shor, Hakasya, Baskurdistan and Tatarstan share the same history and destiny, which we value very much. We hope that through our works you will see the diversity of our lands, you will feel the soul of our peoples, you will understand that we care about our world and the memory of our ancestors. We are very impressed with your project and we hope that the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts will always exist. I wish you endless health, prosperity and success."
Ulan Dzhalievise; "Our common thought centers upon loving human and humanity"
Kyrgyz artist Ulan Dzhalievise, whose solo exhibition would be opened, said "I have been living and working in Cyprus for the last two months. During this time, I tried to express myself and my country in the works I created. I also had the opportunity to meet other artists and their works, to understand their feelings, thoughts and sometimes their wounds. As artists, we use different colors, different styles and different techniques, but our common idea is "love for humanity and humanity". In addition, we are also grateful to Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel for the award dedicated in the name of our renowned national artist Dogdurbek Nurgaziyev. This is a great pride not only for Kyrgyz artists, but for all Kyrgyz people."
Stalbek Toktoev; "Young people should respect their youth, labor, and the colors above the paintings"
Kyrgyz artist Stalbek Toktoev said that he spent 10 years studying at universities, but learned and saw more in this 60-day symposium.
Stalbek; "When I was 20, my first teacher told me I had to draw portraits. I didn't listen to him very much, but with the confidence and faith you have imposed on me, I'm 60 years old now and I'm doing what my first teacher said. I can't look at the world like I used to, I am looking from another perspective now. When I was 60, I realized that we must complete the mission that God has given us and hear the elders, and I have an advice for our young artists; I recommend them to respect their youth, their labor, and the colors above the paintings."
Gulnafis Mergenbaeva expressed her emotions with a poem.
Kyrgyz artist Gulnafis Mergenbaeva tried to reflect her feelings and thoughts with a poem and read these verses,
North of Cyprus, on the Mediterranean coast,
In winter, it's hot like summer
Gardens bloom
Artist finds paradise
My people from Saryark
My Great Pamir children
We brought the salute of the great lands
We came to share the beauty
Suat Hoca and artist are working in the north of Cyprus
The flags of our countries fly high proudly
The spirit of humanity awakens
To feel the fullness of life
Turkic peoples need Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts
To reflect the spirit of time
Worlds are created, not artworks
It's like we're looking for pearls in the depths of the sea
But each has its own homeland
O, great steppe, I'm your dust
Nobody feels your warmth and cold like me
But take these people to heaven, my people...
Nurlan Shilibayev; "Thank you for being part of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, a unique and spectacular project"
Kazakh artist Nurlan Shilibayev in his speech; "First of all, we would like to thank Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel for his invitation and the opportunity he provided us with in order to be a part of this unique and magnificent project, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts. I would like to express my deepest gratitude and respect for providing an atmosphere full of inspiration."
Completion of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts will be a great contribution to art...
Minister of Labor and Social Security Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu in his speech said "I want to express this very clearly from the beginning, the quality is always high, and now it has become such that there is a sweet race and motivation among the artists, this is reflected in their expressions. Here we have the opportunity to see the quality of the works of the artists, each time they open an exhibition. The completion of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art, which will be the biggest art museum of the world in the future, will be a great contribution to art. In my opinion, this campus was formerly an education campus, a health campus but we could now make an addition to this campus now. Now, it turned to be a campus of museums, now it is necessary to open this campus to Cyprus and to the whole world. On the other hand, we live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We have some precious people who have identified themselves with this land, they have existed in this land, and will continue their generations in this land."
Silver Key Award and Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the artists and exhibition ribbons were cut
After the speeches, Minister of Labor and Social Security presented the artists of the Russian Federation Salavat Giliazetdinov, Gulnaz Giliazetdinova, Azamat Giliazetdinov, Vagiz Shaikhetdinov, Khamza Sharipov, Sofia Asochakova, Liubov Arbachakova, Arzhan Iuteev, Igor Katonov, Diulustan Boitunov, and Amyr Ukachin the certificates of gratitude, and Silver Key Honor Award to Ulan Dzhaliev, Nurlan Shilibayev, and Gulnafis Mergenbaeva and Kazakh artist Nurlan Shilibayev. The exhibitions will be open until 06 December 2019 between 08.00-16.00 on weekdays in the exhibition hall of the Near East University Faculty of Communication.
