Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Vice Dean and Head of Graphic Design Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Ergün's solo Stencil Print Painting Exhibition titled "BEAUTIFUL" was opened by Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu, Minister of Labor and Social Security.
According to the information provided by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of the Near East University, the opening of the exhibition was realized by the Minister of Labor and Social Security Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu, and the Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel, vice-rector, institute director, deans, faculty members, artists and guests attended to the ceremony.
At the opening of the exhibition, the Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated in his opening remarks that the total number of public holidays in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 2019 was 119 days, including weekends. Stating that dozens of workshops, symposiums took place in 2019 within the scope of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts project and that 232 exhibitions opened, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ pointed out that almost one exhibition was opened a day throughout the year, a first in the world.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ; "Women are involved in each frame of visual and audio art”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ in his opening speech about the exhibition said; "The place of all women heroes, whether they are legends or real, has been shaped in parallel with time, culture and belief systems and is depicted with different symbols. Women took part in the writing, painting, sculpture, music, literature, fashion and advertising, in short, in each frame of visual and audio art. The woman has left herself in the arms of art as an indispensable part of abundance and fertility, as the Aphrodite of the divine world, as the weakness of the opposite sex, as the instigator of the first sin, as the symbol of reason and cunning, and sometimes as a living being questioned about gender. The famous American writer Henry Miller says, "There are three things that can be done about women. You can love them, you can suffer for them or you can turn them into literature. Our artist Erdoğan Ergün has transformed the woman into “Beautiful" in his solo exhibition."
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ; “By applying Graffiti/Stencil technique, Erdoğan Ergün, who reflects the language of the streets and of the art on the canvas, creates his works by using a new and contemporary formatting language with the images enriched with the typographic elements and motifs on the wall texture. Graffiti/Stencil art, which emerged on the streets as a stance against traditional understanding, is found in galleries and even museums today. The sharpness found in his works stems from the fact that he cuts the templates he uses in his works. This sharpness, in combination with warm and contrast colors, sometimes in harmony of cold colors, creates aesthetic harmony. These are the artistic faces of Erdoğan Ergün…"
Erdoğan Ergün as a human being is someone in love with his country, institution and people. Adjectives referring to identity such as Turkish, Cypriot, Near Easterner describe him. It is possible to see his fingerprints in many artworks of Near East University. On a wall on campus, in a center or in a museum. He is a stubborn academician fighting for his institution and art without compromising. A very good friend. Always with you in joy and sadness. When you celebrate a victory or lament at the side of a grave, you feel his hand on your shoulder. So, as you understand, Erdogan is one of those finest persons." Stating that countdown has begun for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ finally said; "I kindly salute you with the hope of being together in many exhibitions where we will share the beauty and offer you my deepest respect.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergun; “A beautiful museum would suit a beautiful country. Therefore, I am grateful to my teacher Dr.Suat Günsel...”
Artist, academician Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Ergün; "The philosophy of my works and my quest on objects are based on beauty/beautiful. Beauty and beautiful are the foundation of human beings. What makes an object beautiful for a human being is the value he places on the object. The concept of beauty and beautiful for the human being is considered together with the concepts of pleasant, good, wonderful, sweet, perfect, useful or right, because for humans, the concept of beauty does not emerge without these concepts. This exhibition, "BEAUTIFUL", in which I approached with artistic concerns and prepared using the unique visual language of the graphic, consists of my template print pictures. Our museum is rising fast, so fast which excites me. A beautiful museum would suit a country already beautiful. That is why I am grateful to my Teacher Suat Hoca. Let it be a beautiful exhibition, let everything ve beautiful, greetings and love, thank you all..."
Minister Sucuoğlu; "We are taking fast steps towards creating a first in the world. With the opening of the museum, this will express itself much more.”
The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu said in his opening remarks, "This is probably the first opening of the year 2020 and the first exhibition, so I wish that the year 2020 will bring health, happiness, peace, and success. We started fast in 2020, today is the second day and we are again in the opening of an exhibition. I did not waste my breath when I said “Crazy Turkish Cypriots,”. We are taking fast steps towards creating a first in the world. I guess that with the opening of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, this will express itself even more. As far as I can see, Near East University is generally ambitious in all the sectors it has taken. It came to my mind right away, the Near East Basketball Team, so you're used to having championships. You are also very successful in this field, in the field of are, especially in painting exhibitions. I am very happy to be here because when we look around us there is tension, fire, death, war, but we are growing like a daffodil in the middle of this circle of fire.”
The award was presented with a certificate of appreciation and the ribbon of the exhibition was cut…
After the speeches, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel presented the HÂRİZMÎ award given to Print Painting Artists within the scope of Alasia Awards to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Ergün. The exhibition can be visited at the exhibition hall of the Near East University Faculty of Medicine between 08.00-16.00 on weekdays until 12 January 2020.
