The “Unforgettables Exhibition”, realized in memory of the late rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, was opened by the Minister of Interior, Dursun Oğuz, at the GÜNSEL Art Museum.

The “Unforgettables Exhibition”, organized in memory of Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, who served as the rector of Near East University for 23 years and passed away in 2023, opened in the GÜNSEL Art Museum Exhibition Hall. The exhibition, which brings together 50 works exclusively prepared by academic artists from the Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design and artists from the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, was inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Dursun Oğuz.

The exhibition also includes works by Hasan Alaz Koçero, Rüya Tahir, and Elina Sabet from Near East Yeniboğaziçi College; Almira Oytaç and Kayla Efetürk from Near East College; and Dr. Karel İzkan from Suat Günsel Kyrenia Primary School and Kuzey Langal from Near East Primary School. The “Unforgettables Exhibition,” which is also the 479th exhibition of the Cyprus Modern Art Museum, can be visited free of charge until January 16th.

At the opening of the exhibition, which saw a large turnout, opening speeches were delivered by the Minister of Interior Dursun Oğuz, the Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç, and the AI-based academician Prof. Dux, who said: “While we advance with technology in building the future, we preserve the depth that makes us human through art. Thus, making art accessible, livable, and sustainable is the shared responsibility of cities, universities, and society. Let’s not only remember the “unforgettables”, but also transform their inspiration into new productions, new young artists, and a stronger cultural climate.”

Dursun Oğuz said: “Near East University has given a very strong message of gratitude today.”

Stating that each work in the exhibition reflects a different thought and emotion, Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz said that it is of great importance to correctly interpret these messages.

He added that the fact that the exhibition was organized in the name of Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan reflects a very strong sense of gratitude. He said, “The fact that this exhibition is being opened in the name of Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan is a very clear indication of the value the Near East Family places on gratitude. Fortunately, Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan touched thousands of students and thousands of people, leaving behind important legacies.”

Stating that Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan’s name will continue to live on as long as Near East University exists, Minister Oğuz said, “This exhibition, which opened today, is one of the strongest indicators of this. As long as Near East University exists, the name of Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan will always live on.” Thanking everyone who contributed to the exhibition, Minister Oğuz said, “The Near East Family is sending a very strong message today. We are showing that we always stand by an understanding that values those who deserve it, those who work hard, and those who are valuable.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “In the memory of this university, one of the names that taught us the difference between ‘being important’ and ‘being valuable’ in the deepest way is undoubtedly Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan.”

Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ began his speech by saying, “I am deeply honored to be here at this exhibition, opened in memory of our late Rector Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, a great name who left deep and indelible marks in the memory of Near East University.”

Emphasizing that the “Unforgettables Exhibition” is not limited to commemorating the past, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ stated that the exhibition serves as a powerful memory that carries the university’s fundamental values to the present and future. Drawing attention to the understanding that Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan brought to the university culture, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “Without a doubt, one of the names that taught us the difference between ‘being important’ and ‘being valuable’ in the memory of this university is Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, stating that he had the privilege of working with Ümit Hassan as vice-rector, he expressed that he had the opportunity to closely observe his perspective on the university, his meticulousness in decision-making processes, and his approach that always prioritized people. Emphasizing that taking over the rectorate position after his death was not merely an administrative responsibility for him, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “This position is a heavy but extremely honorable trust for me. In every decision we make while managing Near East University, our professor’s values continue to guide us.”

Prof. Erdal Aygenç: “Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, with his language, thought, and wisdom, was not only an academician but also a master of words who nurtured generations.”

In his speech, Prof. Erdal Aygenç, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, emphasized his deep respect for Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan and the sense of gratitude the exhibition represented, saying, “Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan was not only an academician with his language, thought, and wisdom, but also a master of words who nurtured generations. We are talking about a scholar who could skillfully use the same word in three, even four different languages; a master of words with his command of Turkish; and who could speak profoundly within a vast world of thought ranging from Shakespeare to Ibn Khaldun.”

Prof. Dr. Aygenç noted that the impact of Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan on his students could best be understood through their own words, sharing the following anecdote: He recalled one student saying, “I told someone who wanted to work in the social sciences, ‘If he’s still in Cyprus, study at the university where he is.’” He also recounted that another student expressed his respect for his professor by saying, “I still keep his lecture notes. He covered many topics in his classes that weren’t included in his books.”

In his speech, Prof. Aygenç also touched upon Near East University’s cultural approach, stating that a university culture that values both aesthetics and scientific principles gives artists and scientists the respect they deserve. He said that the Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan Republic Hall, opened with the decision of the Günsel Family, and the “Unforgettables Exhibition” are concrete examples of this understanding of gratitude.