Four solo exhibitions consisting of 165 works realized by the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts on World Art Day were opened by President Ersin Tatar in the exhibition hall of the Near East University Hospital. Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy, Nicosia Deputy Ahmet Savaşan and many guests attended the opening of the exhibitions, which will be open to visitors throughout April.

Kubanychbek İbragimov’s solo painting exhibition “House Among Cacti” consists of 40 works, Asein Dzhumabekov’s solo painting exhibition “The Magic of Colors” consists of 50 works, and Kadyr Bekov’s solo painting exhibition “Melody of Colors” consists of 60 works. A total of 150 works of art met with art lovers in the solo painting exhibitions of three artists. The sculpture exhibition titled “Bird”, which brings together 15 bird sculptures shaped by artist İsmail Gündoğan from metal through magnificent handwork, was another solo exhibition that was opened.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibitions, President Ersin Tatar, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Kadyr Bekov and İsmail Gündoğan, the artists whose exhibitions were opened, delivered speeches.

After the speeches, İbragimov, Dzhumabekov and Bekov, whose solo painting exhibitions were opened, were presented with the “Uluğ Beg” award given to international painting artists by President Ersin Tatar. İsmail Gündoğan was also given the “Ibn-i Tufeyl” award, which is given to sculpture artists within the scope of Alasia awards, by President Tatar.

President Ersin Tatar: “Art is an expression of friendship and peace.”
Speaking at the opening of the exhibitions, President Ersin Tatar started his speech by emphasizing the 15 April World Art Day and said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has turned into one of the important art centers of the Mediterranean under the leadership of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts and the Near East University. President Tatar said, “We see the progress of science and art in a tremendous harmony in the museums of the Near East University,” and pointed out that art also expresses freedom, creativity and peace. President Ersin Tatar also touched upon the Ukraine-Russia war in his speech. “The Ukraine-Russia war, which we are following closely today, reminds us of those days in the past. Today, we are calling for peace to the whole world from here.”

President Tatar said, “All works that meet art lovers here on the World Art Day evoke world peace and friendship. Because art is an expression of friendship and peace.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Today we celebrate the World Art Day, the art feast we will witness here is one of the symbols of great effort, perseverance and vision.”
Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized that the opened exhibitions are one of the symbols of great effort, determination and vision, and that the exhibitions opened are a valuable reflection of the Near East Enterprises’ museums that describe, make sense of, explain and transfer present, future, history, nature, human and humanity to the future with art.“

Stating that Near East University walks arm in arm with art and science, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ also mentioned the success of Near East University in the AD Scientific Index list. Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said that “Near East University is ranked 552nd among 15 thousand universities worldwide enlisted in the World’s Best Universities ranking; Being ranked 230th among 3,126 universities in Europe and among the top 250 universities in Europe is the result of our effort to integrate our country, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with the world. I would also like to emphasize that our university is in the top three in Turkey, in the list of which it is by far the best university in the TRNC.”

Reminding that 50.5% of the 3019 scientific articles published in international refereed journals by TRNC universities in 2021 were written by Near East University academics alone, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “I would like to thank and congratulate all my colleagues, especially our esteemed lecturers. I believe that we will continue to produce and work without slowing down and will continue to achieve many great successes together…”

İsmail Gündoğan: “The Near East Enterprises value ​​and care for scientists and artists individually as well as science and art.”
Near East University Art Design Department doctoral student İsmail Gündoğan, whose solo exhibition of 15 sculptures consisting of bird figures he shaped from metal, was opened, said that he has seen the value given to art and artists since 2019, when he joined the Near East Family. We are proud to be a part of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, which has left its mark on the present and future of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Gündoğan, referring to İbn-i Sina’s saying “Science and art leave societies in which they are not respected”, and emphasized that Near East University Founding Rector Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel has given this respect to art and artists. Saying “The Near East Enterprises value ​​and care for scientists and artists individually as well as for science and art,” İsmail Gündoğan added, “This care and value encourages the creativity of us, the artists.”

Kadyr Bekov: “We are very grateful for your hospitality.”
Expressing his pleasure to be a part of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, Kazakh artist Kadyr Bekov said, “I would like to thank Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel for inviting us to such a beautiful country and hosting us here.” Bekov also said, “On behalf of all artists, I would like to thank the Near East Enterprises and the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts team, who take care of us, the artists, and help them in every way. We are very grateful for your hospitality.”