Within the scope of the activities celebrating the 36th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the "November 15 Republic Day", the “Republic Exhibition” and the solo exhibition of Cyprus Turkish artist Özden Selenge, titled 51 Years", will be opened by the Minister of National Education and Culture Nazım Çavuşoğlu.
According to the information provided by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of the Near East University, the “Republic Exhibition" and the solo exhibition of artist Özden Selenge titled "51 Years in Art" will be held at the Exhibition Hall of the Near East University İrfan Günsel Congress Center and opened by Nazım Çavuşoğlu on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 08.30. Near East University Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design and the curator of the exhibitions, Prof. Dr. Erdal Erdal Aygenç, said that the exhibition will feature 116 works of 43 artists using different techniques. It will consist of works such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, print painting and photography.The exhibition curator Aygenç said that with the Republic Exhibition art lovers will have the opportunity to follow the works produced by art educators working under the Near East University with the identities of artists and educators.
“Republic Exhibition" consists of painting, sculpture, ceramics, print painting and photography...
Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç also stated that the exhibition, which consists of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, print paintings and photographs, is the 176th exhibition that will be opened under the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art project, which will contribute to the formation of art and cultural memory.
Aygenç said “Near East University carries out major projects in science, technology and health, as well as carrying a pioneering, progressive and innovative identity in the fields of culture and art. An artwork is the result of a series of creative experiences and analysis. At the same time, in all art productions lies the enthusiasm of being shaped into a new world. With the pride and happiness of sharing this excitement on a meaningful day, I invite art viewers to our exhibition.”
What really matters is to exist, to live and to depict my land with the inspiration of the lifeblood given to me..."
Özden Selenge, the artist of the solo exhibition, which is the 177th exhibition that will be opened under the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art, said: "My goal in art is to capture my fantasies, life and times and capture what the essence of time is and reflect it with my own way of creation. While transforming my creations into words and plastic elements; subject, content, material, color, and genre may always change by insisting on myself to do so; but my aesthetic anxiety and artistic attitude have never changed. In my art journey, my Cypriotness is my compass. Depicting living and unliving elements, vivid and lifeless colors of every element, all the color and colorlessness of all the states and what really matters is to exist, to live and to depict my land with the inspiration of the lifeblood given to me."
Who is Özden Selenge?
She was born in 1946 in the village of Aynakofo (Altınova) in Famagusta. Her father was a teacher. She spent his childhood in villages of poetic nature. Her love and interest in art started during her primary school years. She graduated from Nicosia Turkish Girls' High School. She studied Painting and Art History at Ankara Gazi Institute of Education. She was the student of highly esteemed artists of Turkey, Kayıhan Keskinok and Adnan Turani. After graduating in 1967, she taught Painting and Art History for 22 years in İzmir and Cyprus. She also worked at the Turkish Teachers College. She opened her first solo exhibition in 1968 in İzmir. Since then, she has been working continuously. Two of her paintings were used as a stamp image by the TRNC Postal Office. She has 10 published books (novels, short stories) and 9 theater plays. She has many awards in literature.
