Speaking at the last exhibition of 2024 opened by the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, President Ersin Tatar said: “What is being realized at the Near East University with a relentless tempo creates a driving force with a great spark, great dynamism and great energy.” Bidding farewell to 2024 with an art-filled closing, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts held the opening of its last exhibition of the year with intense participation. The “Fine Arts December End of Year Exhibition”, which brought together 50 artworks by 20 award-winning academic artists of the Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, was opened by President Ersin Tatar.

The exhibition, which consists of artworks from different branches of art such as sculpture, ceramics and printmaking, can be visited free of charge until January 21, 2025. The opening speeches of the exhibition were made by President Ersin Tatar, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Dean Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç.

President Ersin Tatar: “The things that are being done at the Near East University with a relentless tempo create a great spark, great dynamism and great energy and a driving force.”

In his speech at the opening of the exhibition, President Ersin Tatar reminded that 2024 was full of difficulties and struggles and stated that the Near East University managed to make the voice of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus heard to the whole world with the works it carried out in various fields and the achievements. President Ersin Tatar said, “The things that are being done at the Near East University with a relentless tempo create a great spark, great dynamism and great energy and a driving force.”

“In this respect, this exhibition organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of the Near East University both reveals the productivity and richness of our university, and the works create a museum-like archive and contributes to the voice of our country being heard with the universal language of art.” President Ersin Tatar also said, “These efforts once again reveal how advanced our education system is and highlights our leadership in our region.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “As Near East University, we are working to create an antidote to the feeling of ‘crowded loneliness’.”

Starting his speech by reminding that the Turkish Language Association has chosen “crowded loneliness” as the “Concept of the Year 2024,” Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “I think this choice is quite appropriate. The loneliness we feel in crowds also reveals the meaning and power of art once again in this age when the digital world is transforming our relationships. Because art builds bridges between our loneliness, brings people together and unites our souls.”

“As Near East University, we are also working to create an antidote to the feeling of ‘crowded loneliness’,” said Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, who also touched on Near East University’s international achievements throughout the year and said that these achievements were a result of this effort. “While we rose to 139th place among the world’s best young universities, 18 of our academics were included in Stanford University’s most influential scientists list. We entered the top 10 in the ‘Quality of Education’ and ‘Sustainable Cities and Societies’ categories in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. We broke new ground in the field of health with our artificial intelligence-based trainer AI. Prof. DUX’s presentation at the congress and our innovative PCR diagnostic kit.”

“The steps taken and achievements are also the result of working, producing and sharing together. This special exhibition represents the power of not only art but also being together, producing and sharing,” said Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, finally adding; “Because we are a crowd but we are not alone.”

Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç: “This exhibition is a great start to celebrate the hopes and opportunities that the new year will bring.”

Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of the Near East University Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç started his speech by saying “Our 468th exhibition that we organized for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art does not only celebrate the beginning of a new year, but also offers a great opportunity to exhibit our creative energy and love of art.” Stating that art is the strongest means of expressing one’s inner world and emotions, Prof. Dr. Aygenç said, “We try to make sense of ourselves and our surroundings by reflecting our creativity, dreams, hopes and sometimes our concerns on canvas, shaping sculptures or expressing them in different forms.”

Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç, who stated that “This exhibition is a great start to celebrate the hopes and opportunities that the new year will bring,” also said, “Each artwork exhibited reflects the artist’s creativity, dedication, and pieces that come from their inner world aim to expand the boundaries of creative thought. We are very proud and happy to see the works of our esteemed academicians from different disciplines here today.”