The 402nd exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts was opened by Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center Exhibition Hall. Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Lecturer and painting artist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hastürk’s solo painting exhibition “Blue Apple”, which consists of 35 works exclusively prepared for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, brings a different perspective on the relationship between men and women, starting from the time of Adam and Eve, from a mythological and religious point of view. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge until April 15.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by many guests, including Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu and Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hastürk and Prime Minister Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu made speeches. After his speech in which Prime Minister Sucuoğlu made important statements on the agenda, he also presented the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts Silver Key Honor Award to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hastürk.
Prime Minister Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu: “Every time I come to the Near East University campus, I see an enterprise that invests its entire existence on this land.”
Prime Minister Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu made important statements about the agenda in his speech at the opening of the 402nd exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts. Referring to the pandemic process that has been going on for about two years and the economic crisis that the Russia-Ukraine war has deepened all over the world, Prime Minister Dr. Sucuoğlu said, “As the world, we are all going through difficult times. A pandemic that has been going on for about two years and affecting the whole world, and besides this, the Russian-Ukrainian war has been going on for more than a month. The world has become a small global village. The slightest event affects everyone. Just as all these events have affected us.”
Talking about the energy and economic problems in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Prime Minister Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu also gave the good news that the power cuts in the country will come to an end as of today. “We are working on an important economic protocol with Motherland Turkey and we will sign this protocol next week,” said Prime Minister Dr. Sucuoğlu and added, “Thus, we will continue on our way economically as well. Every descent has a rise, we will catch this rise soon and we will bring back the welfare level that our people deserve.”
Talking about the actions taken against the economic difficulties experienced, Prime Minister Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu said, “Today, our unions held a just and peaceful protest in response to the high cost of living. This art event, which we participated in after this action, relieved all of us a little bit.”
“Every time I come to the Near East University, I see a different development and production. This is a center where art and technology are produced. The domestic automobile of our country is produced in this center. The university hospital, where many lives were saved, is also here. It is home to the most important artistic wealth not only of our country, but also of the Mediterranean and the world, with its science producing faculties and museums more important than the other,” said Prime Minister Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu, and added, “All these contributions are very valuable for our country and region. However, when I come to the Near East University campus, I see an enterprise that invests its entire existence on the land. I see that the Günsel Family has invested and believed in this country, without investing a single penny abroad, by equating their own destiny with the destiny of this country. This is a true example of patriotism.”
Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul: “Our institution, by turning projects that no one can even dream of into reality, has been continuing to develop the balance it has established between imagination and reality.”
Head of Museums Department of Near East Enterprises Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul started his speech by referring to April 15 World Art Day. “Near East University including Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, Cyprus Car Museum, Near East Art Museum, Walled City Museum, Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum and Günsel Art Museum in its inventory, created with an understanding that integrates contemporary art with history, and its size of collection exceeds 100 thousand pieces. With its collections, it brings the illuminating power of art together with our country, the Mediterranean and the world,” saying Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, also reminded that Near East University is among the top 500 universities in the world, besides its pioneering role in art, and emphasized that it plays a leading role in the region scientifically. Drawing attention to projects such as GÜNSEL, the domestic car of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the local PCR diagnostic kit, Prof. Dr. Özkul said, “Our enterprises turns projects that no one can even dream of into reality, continues to develop the balance it has established between imagination and reality.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hastürk: “Turkish Cypriots will not only protect the artistic assets that existed before them but will leave their mark on these lands with what they produce.”
Starting his speech by expressing his happiness at opening his solo painting exhibition called “Blue Apple”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hastürk expressed his gratitude to the participants for sharing this happiness.
Talking about the pioneering role of the Near East Enterprises in art, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hastürk said, “We are going through difficult times as humanity and as a country. But we never stopped. We held on to art, we produced art. We are working for future generations. I believe that this production process that we have started under the leadership of our Founding Rector, Dr. Suat Günsel, will continue and never end. Turkish Cypriots will not only protect the artistic assets that existed before them, but will leave their marks on this land with what they have produced.”
