Turkish Cypriot art and ceramic artists Türksal İnce and Taylan Oğuzkan will present two separate solo art exhibitions exclusively made with their unique techniques and creativity for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts.

According to the press information provided by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, on December 11, 2019, Wednesday, at 09.30, two solo painting exhibitions of consisting of 19 artworks of Türksal İnce and 15 artworks of Taylan Oğuzkan, all reflecting the creativity and unique characteristics of Turkish Cypriot artists, will be opened by Minister of Economy and Energy Hasan Taçoy at the exhibition hall of the Faculty of Dentistry of Near East University.

Who is Türksal İnce?
He was born in 1949 in Famagusta. In 1969, he graduated from the Painting Department of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts. He enrolled in the workshop of Devrim Erbil. During his 5-year education, he made innovations and inventions in painting, ceramics, and engraving. In 1973, he worked on the construction of a 100 m2 ceramic panel built for the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon. He held exhibitions titled “5 Cypriot Artists” in Turkey. He graduated in 1974. At the 1974 Peace Operation, all of his artworks were destroyed by bombing. He accelerated his efforts to re-exist and recreate his works. Among his works, there are concrete reliefs built for Muratağa-Sandallar and Atlılar Martyrs’ tombs in memory of martyrs. He participated in all state exhibitions in Turkey. In 1976, he made a 15 m2 ceramic wall panel named “DEVELOPMENT at the Turkish Bank of Nicosia. He was a jury member and chairman of many state art competitions. He represented the North Cyprus in national and international exhibitions held in Turkey and Europe in the best way. He has taken an active role in the establishment and management of many non-governmental organizations and associations. In his works RAKU-CERAMIC and ANTIQUE CERAMIC reflect the traces of the art of ancient Famagusta and Cyprus. Recently, he uses the positive and negative characters of abstract figures as styles. In 2009, he retired from Namık Kemal High School, where he worked as the Vice-Principal and painting teacher. He participated in all the painting and sculpture exhibitions of Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Union. In 2010 local elections, he was elected as a council member of Famagusta Municipality. He has been carrying out this duty for 3 terms. During his service at the Famagusta Municipality, he has undertaken an active role in the creation of art branches and projects. He is married and has two children.

Who is Taylan Oğuzkan?
He was born in 1948 in Paphos. Between 1954-1967, he completed his primary, secondary and high school education in Paphos. In 1969, he started his art education in Istanbul. He was accepted to the Painting Department of Devrim Erbil Studio, State Academy of Fine Arts. After the Peace Operation in 1974, he moved to England and lived there for a while. Due to uncertainty, he postponed his graduation from Istanbul Fine Arts Academy Painting Department indefinitely. In 1982, he graduated from the Painting Department of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Faculty with a master’s degree. Shortly after graduation, he went to Australia and settled there. In 1994, he made a definite return to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Between 1994-1997, he worked as an art teacher in some secondary schools in Famagusta. In 1995, his personal exhibition opened in Famagusta. Between 1997-2003, he taught Art Design, Visual Arts and Art History at the Eastern Mediterranean College. Between 2004-2009, he taught Painting, Art Design and Art History at the Near East College. He retired in 2010. The artist has participated in many national and international group exhibitions and workshops.