The “Memory of the Earth from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages” collection, a 24-year project carried out by Turkish Cypriot researcher and artist Rauf Ersenal, exhibiting the ceramic heritage from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages using original techniques, was opened to the public at the GÜNSEL Art Museum. The collection brings back to Cyprus artifacts that were removed from the island during the British colonial period and are now scattered across museums worldwide, from the British Museum to the Metropolitan Museum.

Located on the campus of Near East University, one of the world’s top 500 universities, and notable for its modern architecture and spacious exhibition areas, the GÜNSEL Art Museum has added another collection to its repertoire. Having already presented over a thousand works to art lovers, the museum now also offers the “Memory of the Earth from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages” collection, bringing Cyprus’s millennia-old cultural heritage to the present day.

The collection, amassed throughout a time period over 24 years by Turkish Cypriot researcher and artist Rauf Ersenal, makes visible the island’s ceramic culture from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages through works reproduced using original techniques. Tracing the history of Cypriot ceramics, particularly those taken off the island during the British colonial period and now scattered across museums worldwide, from the British Museum to the Metropolitan Museum, the collection is of great importance in reconnecting this heritage with Cyprus.

The Traces of History Live on at the GÜNSEL Art Museum!

Emphasizing the significant role of Cyprus as a center for ceramic production since prehistoric times, the “Memory of the Earth from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages” collection offers not only an aesthetic accumulation but also a powerful historical narrative reflecting the cultural interactions, trade networks, and social life of the Mediterranean. The artworks, carrying the memory of the earth, connect the traces of the past with today’s viewers, while also making a lost production tradition visible again.

The GÜNSEL Art Museum not only houses contemporary art works but also stands out with its special collections possessing historical depth. Another noteworthy collection in the museum is by Selçuk Yalovalı. This archaeological collection, which traces the 19 different civilizations that ruled Cyprus, sheds light on the island’s multifaceted history. Located on the same floor, the Gallipoli Naval Battles Ship Collection conveys historical memory to visitors with a powerful narrative. This rich content makes the museum not just an exhibition space, but a multifaceted cultural center that bridges the gap between the past and the present.

Rauf Ersenal: “This collection revives the memory of the land in the geography to which it belongs.”

Artist Rauf Ersenal, who created the ‘Memory of the Land from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages’ collection througout 24 years of effort, spoke about the process of creating the works and their meanings, saying, “This collection revives the memory of the land in the geography to which it belongs. My aim in creating this collection was to trace the artifacts of Cyprus scattered across the globe and to bring them back to my country by reproducing them using the original techniques of the period. Each piece of the collection, which is on exhibition at the GÜNSEL Art Museum, bears witness to the lives, emotions, and creations of the people who lived on this land. I essentially became an apprentice in an ancient history. These works carry the silent but powerful stories of the past to the present.”

The “Memory of the Land from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages” collection, now open to visitors at the GÜNSEL Art Museum, awaits all art lovers who wish to get to know Cyprus’ cultural heritage up close.