Organised as part of events held due to 8th March International Women’s Day, the exhibition comprising 90 art pieces, which have also been created uniquely for Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, of 60 award winning artists, including artists from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Turkic World, has recently been opened by Kyrenia Member of Parliament from UBP (National Unity Party) İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra at the exhibition hall of the Near East University Hospital.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, Kyrenia Member of Parliament from UBP (National Unity Party) İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra; Founding Rector of the Near East University Dr. Suat İ.Günsel; Founding Rector of University of Kyrenia Assist. Prof. Dr.Cemre Günsel Haskasap; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Özay Günsel Children’s University Anna Günsel, Member of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Mehmet Soykurt; Vice Rector of Near East University Prof.Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ; Head of Institute, Deans, Academic Members, artists and guests attended the opening ceremony which was held in a fruitful atmosphere. Furthermore, it was pointed out that Vice Rector of Near East University Prof.Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and Kyrenia Member of Parliament from UBP (National Unity Party) İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra each made a speech prior to ribbon cutting ceremony.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Woman: Is the sound in the bard's works and is both an artist and the work of art for those who can perceive it.”
In his speech Vice Rector of Near East University, Prof.Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said that words were insufficient to define what a woman is. He said:“A woman- is a mother, a labourer, earth, water, the sun; in short the basic principle of everything. A woman- is the one who can accomplish everything. She is the one that has the power and intelligence to do every job, it is not crushed and overwhelming. Woman is labour, emotion, love, power in love. A woman is life, efficiency, peace, freedom, resistance, and she is the one who endures everything. A woman- is the sound in the bard's works and is both an artist and the work of art for those who can perceive it. Happy 8 March International Women's Day, which aims to draw attention to the development of women's political and social awareness and their economic, political and social achievements!”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Women are present in writings, paintings, sculptures, music, literature, fashion and advertising, in short, in every frame of audiovisual art.”
In addition to the above, Şanlıdağ expressed that as part of the events held due to the 8th March International Women’s Day, the exhibition which comprises the art pieces created exclusively for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, the 90 pieces of 60 award winning artists from the TRNC and from the Turkic world, different techniques had been utilised, and various work on sculptures, ceramics, print art and photography were included. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said that this exhibition, titled as “Woman” was curated by Vice Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of Near East University and Head of Günsel Art Museum Assoc. Prof.Dr. Erdoğan Ergün. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ expressed many thanks to everyone involved in organising the exhibition and said:

“The positions of all heroines in the society, whether legend or reality, are shaped in parallel with the time, culture and belief systems and are depicted with different symbols. In the writing, in painting, sculpture, music, literature, fashion and advertising, in short, in every frame of the visual and auditory art, women took part. In the stalls where she is a wife of time, she is left to the arms of art as an indispensable part of abundance and fertility, Aphrodite of the divine world, the weakness of the opposite sex, the instigator of the first sin, the symbol of reason and cunning, and sometimes the question of gender.”

As for Kyrenia Member of Parliament from UBP (National Unity Party) İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra expressed that International Women's Day, which has been celebrated since the 1800s, is an international day that has been officially accepted by the United Nations and that 8 March continues to be celebrated every year with events of great significance worldwide.

Gürçağ; “The woman has managed to take her dignified place in terms of the human rights” Gürçağ; “The place of women in early ages was regarded only for her fertility and unfortunately she was unable to take part in any activities of life. However, after the 1800s, the awakening in the world of women has succeeded in taking the place the woman deserves in terms of the human rights, by breaking the men's chain and saying that "I am, too, have duties that I can undertake". As a mother, as a wife and as a sister, she is an entity and figure that shapes her society as well as transforming and shaping the future of her society. If the woman takes up her role in society, that society is civilized. And if the woman is in society, that society is productive. After very long and hard struggles, our women managed to prove herself in the art world as well as standing out with her outstanding achievements in social, political and economic activities. As a matter of fact, in the 60s, in the processes of equal rights and feminist movements in the world, there was a serious boom in the number of women studying and working both in the United States and in European countries. Today, we continue to proudly follow the achievements of our women in education, politics, economy, arts and sports around the world." "No socio-cultural and political flow that women are not involved in can be successful..." "Dear invitees, on this day of March 8, which is important for women, how much we thank Suat Günsel, Founding Rector of Near East University, who attaches great importance to art and artist, is not enough. And at the same time, we kindly express our sincere thanks to our local artists, the artists who are trained by Near East University, and to those who have come to our country from different countries, for their contribution to the art world of our county. And today, I sincerely wish all the best to the women engaged in the middle of the war with their children around the world, or for any reason, who struggle for rights, law, justice, and democracy.

On this meaningful occasion today, while I memorialize with mercy and gratitude the heroic women figures such as Nenehatun, Sister Şerife, Karafatma, Halide Edip Adıvar, Sergeant Halime, and many others who have left their marks in history, the history tells us; "No socio-cultural and political flow that women are not involved in can be successful." Ribbons of the group exhibition consisting of artworks of 60 award-winning artists with the theme of “Women” were cut after the speeches... After the speeches, Deputy İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, the Member of the Parliament, Near East University Founding Rector. Suat İ.Günsel, Kyrenia University Founding Rector Assist. Prof. Dr. Cemre Günsel Haskasap, Özay Günsel Children's University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Anna Günsel, Vice-Rector, institute director, deans and artists cut the exhibition ribbon. The exhibition can be visited between 08.00-16.00 on weekdays until 13 March 2020 at the Near East University Hospital Exhibition Hall.