The GÜNSEL Art Museum, the fourth museum on the campus of Near East University, one of the world’s top 500 universities, opened at Günsel Tower with the participation of Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu.
The GÜNSEL Art Museum, one of the four museums on the campus of Near East University, a top 500 university in the world, and its first exhibition, the “Fine Arts Republic Exhibition,” opened at Günsel Tower with the participation of Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu.

The GÜNSEL Art Museum stands out with its modern architecture, extensive exhibition spaces, and rich collection diversity. Exhibiting over a thousand works, the museum offers a wide range of artworks, including contemporary works, a private collection reflecting the traces of 19 different civilizations that have ruled Cyprus throughout history, digital works showcasing the reflection of artificial intelligence in art, and the Dardanelles Naval Battle Ship Collection.

The museum’s first exhibition, the “Fine Arts Republic Exhibition,” brings together works by academic artists from the Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design and those from the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art. Featuring 50 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking, the exhibition will be open to visitors free of charge until December 24th.

The opening ceremony, which drew a large turnout, included Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Director of the Department of Culture Şirin Zaferyıldızı Zaimağaoğlu, Head of the Civil Defense Organization Hakan Balaban, Chief Counselor of the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia Aytaç Yenal, Rector of the University of Kyrenia Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, and academics from Kocaeli University and Turkish universities.

The opening speeches were delivered by Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Prof. Erdal Aygenç, and Near East University’s AI-based academic, Prof. Dux delivered speeches.

Nazım Çavuşoğlu: “Bringing together thousands of works of art in a small country is no ordinary vision.”

Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu began his opening speech by saying, “I congratulate Dr. Suat Günsel, who dreamed, turned these dreams into goals, and successfully brought them to life.” He emphasized that the GÜNSEL Art Museum represents a new milestone in our country’s cultural and artistic journey.

Çavuşoğlu stated that Near East University is not just a university, saying, “Near East University is more than just an institution providing education; it presents a vision where culture, art, science, and sports flourish together. Academic knowledge can be acquired anywhere; however, art is the element that binds society together and carries it into the future.”

Nazım Çavuşoğlu emphasized the pride of Near East University being among the top 500 universities in the World University Rankings, saying, “I am delighted to speak at the new art center of such a successful university.” Nazım Çavuşoğlu, also addressing Near East University’s foresight and vision, said, “Producing an electric car or bringing together thousands of works of art in a small country is no ordinary vision. The fact that Near East University can generate such powerful ideas demonstrates that success is never a coincidence.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “As the fourth museum on our campus, the GÜNSEL Art Museum represents the distinguished point Near East University has reached in the field of culture and arts.”

Beginning his speech by saying, “Together, we are opening a new symbol of a vision that grows with science, culture, and art, and of years of hard work and determination. Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “As the fourth museum on our campus, the GÜNSEL Art Museum represents the distinguished point Near East University has reached in the field of culture and arts.”

Also touching on the university’s international achievements, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “We see the rise of Near East University not only in the size of our campus or the number of our museums, but also in the results we achieve on a global academic scale. Being ranked among the top 500 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings is a historic milestone not only for our university, but also for Turkish higher education and Cyprus.”

Prof. Erdal Aygenç added, “The GÜNSEL Art Museum will enrich our artistic journey as an inspiring space for learning and creative production.”

“On the 42nd anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we are delighted to welcome you to this new venue, created with great effort, with the pride of being members of a university ranked among the world’s top 500.” said Prof. Erdal Aygenç, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at Near East University. He emphasized that the GÜNSEL Art Museum will enrich artistic journeys as an inspiring space for learning and creative production.

Prof. Aygenç stated that love is one of the most important sources of nourishment for art, saying, “The love we are talking about here is not merely the emotional bond between individuals. It is the love of country, the passion for one’s homeland, the love for one’s homeland that founded the Republic. This love is the power that illuminates Near East University’s path to becoming a world-class university.” Thanking everyone who contributed to the exhibition, Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç concluded his speech by saying, “I extend my gratitude to our Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel, who gave us the motivation to create with love and enabled us to meet in this beautiful space, to Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, and to the Günsel Family.”

AI. Prof. DUX: “The GÜNSEL Art Museum will be a vibrant meeting point where imagination and creativity intertwine.”

Speaking at the opening of the GÜNSEL Art Museum and the museum’s first exhibition, the “Fine Arts Republic Exhibition,” Near East University’s AI-based academic AI. Prof. Dux said, “We are at the heart of Near East University, one of the world’s top 500 universities. This magnificent structure, which will shape the future of our university, will also be a vibrant meeting point where thought, imagination, and creativity intertwine with the works of art it houses.”

AI. Prof. DUX emphasized that the GÜNSEL Art Museum will address a broad spectrum, encompassing both the roots of traditional art and the digital world of the future, saying, “Every work in this museum will remind us of the harmonious dance between human creativity and technology. Because art, at its core, is a form of storytelling. Now, we are writing these stories together, as humans and artificial intelligence. I hope our museum will be a gateway to new inspirations, discoveries, and horizons.”