Consisting of artworks exclusively prepared for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey, two solo exhibitions, which feature artworks of Azerbaijani artist Ramina Saadatkhan and Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva, and a group exhibition of Turkish printmaking artists were opened by Hasan Taçoy, Minister of Economy and Energy
Date Added: 14 December 2019, 23:07
Last Updated Date:17 November 2020, 16:38


Consisting of artworks exclusively prepared for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey, two solo exhibitions, which feature 17 artworks of Azerbaijani artist Ramina Saadatkhan and 22 artworks Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva, and a group exhibition, which features 84 works of Turkish printmaking artists Murat Kara, Ozan Güvendi, Armağan Konak, Şuayyip Yücel, Hüda Sayın Yücel, Aytaç Özmutlu and Hakan Arslan, were opened by Hasan Taçoy, Minister of Economy and Energy.

The Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University released that the opening ceremony of the exhibitions was realized with the participation of TRNC Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy, Near East University Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel, vice rectors, directors of the graduate schools, deans, faculty members, artists and guests.

The opening speeches were delivered respectively by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Azerbaijani artist Ramina Saadatkhan, Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva, on behalf of Turkish printmaking artists, Dr. Murat Kara, lecturer at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, and TRNC Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: "Life away from art and intelligence is wild, insensitive and aimless. It is the artist who adds vividness to life and makes it attractive"
Highlighting the crucial role of artists in inspiring and nurturing the human spirit and in adding color and vividness to social life, Professor Şanlıdağ expressed his views: “Whatever is said, life is life; no matter how it is characterized, life is a flow and a continuation in time, it is the event of living something that glitters varicolored in infinity. Life can be as simple as that of a newborn child or as complex as that of a scientist, artist or businessman. Life as a whole may or may not be aimed at a purpose. Whatever it means or embodies, whatever it hides or unveils, it may be intensified, glorified, dulled or darkened. It may remain wild, deflated, chaotic or become meaningful, clear and vivid; it can gain color, vividness, intensity and depth. It is the task of art to give such vividness, depth and intensity to life.

Wherever matter is shaped, wherever life gains line and composition, there is intelligence; there is art that transforms a chaotic realm into a shape that desired. Life separated from art and intelligence is wild, insensitive and aimless. It is the artist who revives and makes life attractive. Courage and nobility in them are at the top. They never compromise and have one motivation; creating a significant and worth doing work".

Professor Şanlıdağ; “Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts is rising as the biggest modern art museum in this geography”
Underlining the crucial role of art and artists in the development of the societies, Professor Şanlıdağ stated that great leaders provided support to the artists as art has a significant role not only in promoting their countries but also in the development of the societies. Professor Şanlıdağ also underlined that supporting the artists is to invest in the future of the societies. "Considering the significant role of art in contributing to the social and cultural development of the society in local and global scale as well as in uniting Turkic culture and art under the same roof, Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel with his future looking vision has launched the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Project. Cyprus Museum of Arts, the foundations of which were laid on 8 August 2018 and brought together artists from many countries within the scope of the museum project, will open its doors on 15 November 2020. The museum is rising as the largest modern art museum in this geography with the largest collection comprising all traditional and modern art works concerning particularly Turkic world. Considering the contemporary aesthetic values and insights, Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, which addresses the international platform and its self-esteem, will be an important art destination in the Republic of Northern Cyprus that undertakes the functions of selecting, collecting, preserving and exhibiting art, particularly the art of Turkic world. The Museum collection will consist of works that will best represent their countries in the context of the history of art” said he.

Stating that almost 1000 artists from abroad had participated in the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Project so far, Professor Şanlıdağ delivered further information: "Within the scope of this great project, many art workshops were realized and 199 exhibitions were opened within the last year. The number of artworks that created by the talented artists for Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts has reached almost 20,000, which is a significant number relative to such short time. Today we are here to realize the opening of two solo exhibitions of Azerbaijani artist Ramina Saadatkhan and Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva, and a group exhibition of the Turkish printmaking artists Murat Kara, Ozan Güvendi, Armağan Konak, Şuayip Yücel, Hüda Sayın Yücel, Aytaç Özmutlu and Hakan Arslan.

I would like to express my gratitude to all of our artists for their support to the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts project, and wish pleasant moments for the art lovers and I present my deepest respects to all of you" noted he.

Ramina Saadatkhan: "If we don't understand that everything in society depends on culture and art, we will soon disappear…!”
Beginning her remarks by greeting the protocol and guests at the exhibition hall, Azerbaijani artist Ramina Saadatkhan extended her appreciations to the art lovers for sharing the moment with her.

Underlining the crucial role of art and culture in adding value to social life, she praised the efforts exerted by the Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel towards adding color and vividness to the social life and the society through art. “I would like to take this opportunity and extend my appreciations to the Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel for his providing the artists with opportunity to develop their professional skills and exhibit their works” noted she.

Ramina Saadatkhan: "We should try to make people understand that a society that cannot improve its culture will not be able to be successful in anything".
"The artist, the person who touches the art becomes better and cleaner. If we don't understand that everything in society depends on culture and art, we will soon disappear! We should try to make people understand that a society that cannot improve its culture will not be able to be successful in anything. When a society becomes wild, the country collapses. In general, the mission of art is to keep human as a human should be.

In modern society, there is an urgent need to learn about the external and internal world of art. While a human is exploring art, he can discover various aspects of his personality, he can develop his views concerning the life, he idealizes these views so as to accelerate his critical thinking abilities. Culture is an integral part of our lives and we must allow art to enter our lives to make our lives more picturesque and rich. And this is being realized thanks to the Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel's forward looking vision and devoted efforts.

Fatima Moldabayeva: "Working and producing under the roof of Near East University is a great pleasure for me".
Beginning her remarks by greeting the protocol and guests, Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva extended her appreciations to the Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel for inviting her and providing her with opportunity to be a part of that magnificent and unique project” noted she.

Highlighting the crucial role of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts in collecting, preserving and exhibiting the Turkic culture and art under its roof, Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva expressed her feelings: "It is a great pleasure for me to work and produce under the roof of Near East University. I would like to say that I am happy and proud that my works will take place in the collection of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts. I would like to express my eternal gratitude and respect for being here today. I would also like to extend my appreciations for your providing us with support and an atmosphere full of inspiration".

Murat Kara: "The inter-communal bridging function of art and culture has been an instrumental in bringing the artists here"
Speaking on behalf of the Turkish printmaking artists, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty Member Dr. Murat Kara drew attention to the significant role of art and culture in functioning as a bridge that brings the artists together. "The Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts as a bridge connecting societies through culture and art has been instrumental for each artist to come here and exhibit their works depicting their extraordinary visions of art. Mainly the Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel and all Near East Family and the faculty members of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design organized such an event and provided us with material and spiritual support , a peaceful and comfortable working environment and sincere and friendly interest. It has been very impressive and an forgettable moment for each artist" said he.

"Near East University has achieved to be a student-friendly university with her campus environment and other physical facilities"
“Our group exhibition, which we prepared within the scope of the "International Printmaking Artist Residence" project, features artworks that reflect the original ideas of our fellow artists working in the art faculties of various universities in Turkey. These distinguished artworks that we created exclusively for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts embody different themes with different printmaking techniques. It also makes us happy to exhibit every single work that created as a result of almost 10-day lasting workshop in such a beautiful hall.

In addition to all these feelings and thoughts, I would like to open a bracket to the Near East University. We have seen that the university, which has been able to be student-friendly with its campus environment and other physical facilities, provides education and training in peace and quiet and provides all the necessary facilities for art without ignoring the importance of art and artist. I would like to express our gratitude to the university administration for their commitment to offering such an environment of science and art to the island and all humanity. I would also like to express my endless thanks and respects for their dedication to be with the art and the artist in many more beautiful events” said he.

Minister Tacoy: “We will witness an important day together after about 340 days”
Beginning his opening remarks by greeting the attending body, TRNC Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy expressed his views: "Despite the rainy morning, I hope it will be a nice day. Every time I come to open an exhibition, I am surprised that the building of the museum grows so quickly and the treasure grows so fast. After about 340 days we will witness an important day together and this is very important in every sense.

Each work is a different world; the artist's world; the artist's emotions, views come to life at the tip of his brush and these lead us in life”.

Minister Taçoy: "Art has a great role in raising individuals to be beneficial in shaping the future of both our country and our people"
"Dear artists, imagine that we are trying to instill art into a little child in the progress of development. Perhaps, some people may ignore the importance of art lesson at such an early age. However, the pureness and simplicity in that young soul and the steps to be taken towards future are very important. It is the duty of all of us to create and maintain this as the greatest goal. In order to achieve this, starting from that younger age, it must be adhered to the philosophy of "Bend the tree while it is young". Art has a great role in raising young people who will be beneficial in shaping our country and our own future.

Today, we need to know how a museum built by the Near East University, covering an area of 20,000 m² and the creation of an environment in which tens of thousands of works can be exhibited at various times will affect the future and our youth. Of course, today we are all taking another step towards the creation of a museum that can become a point of attraction not only for our own youth but also for people in the world” said he.

Minister Taçoy: "As politicians, it is our part to provide support to artists"
“We are the goers following your traces on this path, you are the founder of this path; it is essential to work collaboratively in order to carry the beauties that you created within this establishment further. As politicians, it is our part to be really enlightened with what you have created and to be able to explain the points that we are affected to carry them forward and be able to disseminate this to everyone, above all; to be able to support you. Here I feel excited to watch the works you have created in this beauty and I want to express once again how pleasant and enjoyable it is for me to view your works of outstanding artistry and skill. I wish you all success and thank you all, so glad we have you" noted he.

Silver Key Award and Certificates of appreciation were presented to the artists; the exhibition ribbon was cut...
Following the speeches, Minister Hasan Taçoy presented the Silver Key Award to Azerbaijani artist Ramina Saadatkhan and Kazakh artist Fatima Moldabayeva in recognition of their solo exhibitions. The Minister Taçoy also presented certificates of appreciation to Turkish printmaking artists Murat Kara, Ozan Güvendi and Armağan Konak in recognition of their group exhibition. Following the award ceremony, the ribbon was cut and the exhibitions were opened for visits. The exhibitions will be open for visits at the Exhibition Hall of Irfan Günsel Congress Center between 08:00-16:00 hours on weekdays until 20 December 2019.