Group exhibitions consisting of artworks exclusively made for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by Kazakh artists Umirbek Tleuliyev, Guldana Zhurkabayev, Pyotr Kishkis, Gulnar Askarova, Aibek Aibek and by Turkish printmaking artists Dalila Özbay, Aslıhan Kaplan Bayrak, Umut Germeç, Mesut Eren, Can Aytekin, Kadir Selçuk Yaşa and the solo exhibition of Kazakh artists Umirbek Tleuliyev was opened by the Minister of Tourism and Environment Ünal Üstel.
According to the information provided by the Near East University Directorate of Press and Public Relations, Tourism and Environment Minister Ünal Üstel, Founding Rector Suat Günsel, vice-rectors, institute directors, deans, faculty members, artists and invited guests attended to the opening ceremony of the exhibitions.
At the opening of the exhibitions, the Vice Rector of the Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, on behalf of Kazakhstani artists Guldana Zhurkabayev, on behalf of artists Umut Germeç, artist Umirbek Tleuliyev and Tourism and Environment Minister Ünal Üstel made a speech.
On November 15, 2020, 7 museums will meet art lovers with a total of 100 thousand works....
Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said in his opening remarks, “Museums that contain traces of the past have certain values. Museums, a social engineering tool that instills etiquette and tastes, are institutions in the service of society and development, open to the public, and serving as centers for researching, collecting, protecting, sharing information and continuity of materials that have witnessed the history of people and the environment in which they live."
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said that on 15 November 2020, in total 7 museums including the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, Cyprus Car Museum, Herbarium and Natural History Museum, National History Museum, Maritime Museum, Knife and Sword Museum, will meet art lovers. Şanlıdağ, stated that there are more than 100 cars in the Car Museum, which was established in 2007, and it has been shown by the authorities among the top 5 of its kind of museums in the world with its classic and modern style cars. He underlined that the Herbarium and Natural History Museum is the richest plant museum of our geography with more than 10 thousand plant species, living specimens and fossil and geological materials.
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ also emphasized that the National History Museum, which is the first museum on the Turkish Cypriots, is showing the historical process from the 1570s to the present as a result of the valuable contributions of 35 experts in the field. He said that within the body of the Marine Museum, the Ottoman Navy, Maritime Education History, Cyprus Peace Operation, Maritime Trade History, Underwater Archeology, and Maritime Culture will come to life.’
Nearly 1000 artists from abroad and a total of 4000 artists participated in the Cyprus Modern Art Museum Project...
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ pointed out that the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, founded on August 9, 2018 and brought together artists from many countries, has risen as the largest modern art museum in this geography. Stating that approximately 4000 artists in total have been involved in the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Project, Şanlıdağ also said that many workshops have been held and 184 exhibitions have been opened so far.
Saying that the number of works produced for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts exceeds 15,000 and that for the museums that will operate on campus, this figure is approaching 100,000, Şanlıdağ said "We are witnessing the formation of a cultural treasure. It is a bridge that will provide unity in language, opinion, art and culture… ” Şanlıdağ wished success to all the artists in this long way at the end of his words.
Guldana Zhurkabayev; “Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts will take an important place in the art world”
Speaking on behalf of the artists of Kazakhstan, Guldana Zhurkabayev, began her opening remarks by thanking and expressing gratitude to the founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel on behalf of the Kazakhstan artists and all Kazakh people for every step taken in the development of culture and art of the Turkic world. Zhurkabayev said, "Everyone understands the language of art, because it is a language without borders. The mission of each creator is to leave a piece of his own heart in his work. Today we leave the parts of our hearts with you and this is very proud of us. We are confident that the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts will have an important place in the art world. Thank you for warmly welcome and for your kind interest."
Umut Germeç; "This exhibition held for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art is a qualitative and quantitative representation of Turkish contemporary engraving ”
Speaking on behalf of the Turkish artists Umut Germeç said that they have conducted a voluntary workshop for two months for this exhibition and that they have participated in this exhibition with 41 artists and 106 artworks.
Germeç said Gravurist is a collective that has organized well-attended exhibitions held in Turkey since 2009, and is based on volunteerism that brings the art a new engraving technique and a new generation has emerged that reveals a sense of social art.
"We face the contemporary engraving of Turkey which has more aesthetic concerns. It has been gradually developing, and the artists who participated in Gravurist exhibitions are usually faculty members at universities in Turkey," he said. Stating that they have become a collective group of collaborators who have been adopted by the faculty members and contributed by them continuously, Germeç said “This exhibition for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts is an important qualitative and quantitative representation of the Turkish contemporary engraving”. Germeç also said, “One of the reasons why participation is so high is that our faculty artists give importance to museums, which, as we all know, are important focal points for art education, art development, as well as the art education.
Umirbek Tleuliyev; “Turkish people should never forget their ancestors, history, culture, and most importantly, how powerful and great they are”
The Kazakh artist Umirbek Tleuliyev, whose solo exhibition was opened, started his speech by thanking everyone who was there and sharing this moment with him. Tleuliyev; "Today I will have the opportunity to introduce you to my new graphic works. This series, named Atameken, has been growing up in me for a long time and eventually came into this world. As a man and a citizen who loves his homeland, the history of my native land and the experiences of the people are very important and valuable to me. The sense of homeland is very strong in me. This reflects my personal life experience in which my country finds great historical refraction points. In the dust of the centuries, I feel like a representative of the great people, and this unbroken bond makes me even stronger. Because in the winds of the steppes, I hear the voices of our grandfathers and the echo of Kobyz and Domra. They fill my heart and enrich my ideas. I couldn't be insensitive to the great legacy of our ancestors. Because today's victories and the spiritual maturity of the Kazakh people are due to our ancestors. I have tried to reflect them in my own works so that all Turkish peoples will never forget their ancestors, history, culture and, most importantly, how powerful and great they are, and they will always be proud of their roots.“
Minister of Tourism and Environment Ünal Üstel, in his opening remarks, emphasized that the art has been developing continuously in the world and that the Turkish world has a long history with its art, history, and tradition.
Minister Üstel; “Art can neither be placed an embargo on, nor it can be prohibited.“
Minister Üstel said in his speech; “Turkish traditions and national values are also very important for the art of the country. These values must be explained to both our youth and our guests coming from abroad. I would like to congratulate you, the esteemed artists who are the creators of these works, which will remain as an important archive for the art of our country, thank you for your devoted works. While the messages of friendship, brotherhood, unity, and solidarity are given in these valuable studies, it is of particular importance to give this message from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The art of painting begins with seeing what no one can see, imagining that no one can imagine, and projecting these phenomena on the canvas. Art can neither be placed an embargo on, nor it can be prohibited.”
“There will be very meaningful and permanent works under the roof of Cyprus Modern Art Museum”
"Cyprus has hosted many different civilizations for many years and each of the different cultures has left important marks throughout the history. Your works will also be very meaningful and permanent values for the project of Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Near East University family for their dedication to include our country in the art world along with international organizations that always attach importance to art and the artist."
Silver Key Award and Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the artists and exhibition ribbons were cut...
After the speeches, Tourism and Environment Minister Ünal Üstel presented the Silver Key Honor Award to Umirbek Tleuliyev and certificates of gratitude to Turkish gravürist artist Dalila Ozbay, Aslıhan Kaplan Bayrak, Umut Germeç, Mesut, Can Aytekin, Kadir Selçuk Yaşa, and Kazakh artists Guldana Zhurkabayeva, Pyotr Kishkis, Gulnar Askarova, Aibek Aibek. The exhibition can be visited at the exhibition hall of the Near East University AKKM Art Center between the hours of 08.00-16.00 on weekdays until 06 December 2019.
