Organized in memory of Ümit Hassan and consisting of 60 works, the “Fine Arts Exhibition” was opened at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center Exhibition Hall with a ceremony attended by Zorlu Töre, President of the National Assembly, and Hasan Taçoy, Minister of Labor and Social Security. Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan’s wife Süheyla Hassan and their daughters Ayşe Ferda Hassan and Erdem Nefes also attended the opening ceremony.

“Fine Arts Exhibition” prepared by the academicians of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of Near East University brought together 60 works of art, consisting of painting, sculpture, ceramics, print painting and stained glass, with art lovers. The exhibition, which is the 434th exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, can be visited free of charge until February 20.

President of the National Assembly Zorlu Töre, Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy and the University of Kyrenia Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, as well as academicians, artists, students and art lovers attended the opening ceremony. The opening speeches of the ceremony were delivered by Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Near East University Prof. Erdal Aygenç, Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy and President of the National Assembly ” Zorlu Töre.

Zorlu Töre: “I am sure that the memory of our teacher will be kept alive by all his fans. This exhibition, which is dedicated to his memory today, and the fans gathered in his memory, are the best proof of this.”
In his speech, President Töre said “Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan was a great figure with all his knowledge and vast experience. I am sure that the memory of our teacher will be kept alive by all his fans. This exhibition, which is dedicated to his memory today, and the fans gathered in his memory, are the best proof of this.”

Congratulating Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ who was appointed as the Rector of NEU, President of the National Assembly Töre also congratulated the artists who contributed to this exhibition and the Near East Family, who showed a good example of loyalty.

Hasan Taçoy: “The Fine Arts Exhibition is one of the most special exhibitions I have attended.”
Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy started his speech by emphasizing that the “Fine Arts Exhibition” is a special exhibition. “The Fine Arts Exhibition has a wide variety of meanings. Being a part of the Near East Family, the artist brings together the finest works of academics. On the other hand, this exhibition is organized in memory of Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, who is a member of the Near East Family and has not spared his devotion for his family for years.” Minister Taçoy said, “People want not to be forgotten even if they fall apart from life, and to always live with good memories. ” Minister Taçoy also said that Ümit Hassan will always be remembered and his words will not be forgotten.

Minister Taçoy reminding the words “I embrace you with all my heart and feelings”, which Ümit Hassan often used, said, “Today, we embrace these works dedicated to the memory of our teacher Ümit Hassan with all our heart and feelings.” Hasan Taçoy congratulated the artists who creted the works exhibited at the end of his speech, and also congratulated Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “With mixed feelings, I am here to give one of the most private speeches of my life.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said in his speech, “I have had the honor of addressing you at the opening of many exhibitions organized by our Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts. However, today, with mixed feelings, I am here to have one of the most private conversations of my life.”, expressing his feelings.

Saying that all the works in the “Fine Arts Exhibition” reflects Ümit Hassan, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “All these works that meet art lovers here today are directly proportional to the versatile scientist identity of our teacher Ümit Hassan. All these have a wide wealth, reflecting his naive, kind, witty and pleasant personality, just like him.”

Stating that he made his first speech as the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ, referring to the terms ‘to give a hand’ and ‘to take a hand’, said, “When I took over the Near East University Rectorate, I am in the peace and pride of having received a hand from our esteemed teacher Ümit Hassan.”

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “Dear Ümit Teacher, I promise in the presence of all the witnesses who are together today to commemorate your cherished memory once again; While I will always protect your memory and carry out this duty which you carried out with great kindness and wisdom for 23 years, I will strive to be worthy of you and will work with all my strength to carry the Near East University, which is your trust, forward and into the future. I would like to express my gratitude to the Günsel Family Board, especially our Founding Rector Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel and our Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel.”

Prof. Erdal Aygenç: “We would like to thank the Near East Family, which proves the value they attach to science, art and people at every opportunity, and who constantly motivates us to create.”
Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Dean Prof. Erdal Aygenç said in his speech: “We are honored to open this exhibition in honor of our esteemed Rector Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan”.

Prof. Erdal Aygenç noting that Ümit Hassan had a versatile personality and wisdom, said, “Our teacher was a master of words who could use a word in three or four languages skillfully and whose command of Turkish was well known. In addition to his wise personality, he has a deep place in everyone’s hearts with his wit and his close ties to art on a rare scale.”

Emphasizing the importance given by the Near East Family to art, artists and science, Prof. Aygenç said, “If both aesthetic values and scientific values are considered important in a culture; artists and scientists have an important place among the people of that culture. As an exemplary sign of fidelity, the Near East Family also named the largest hall of the Near East University Grand Library, ‘Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan Republic Hall”. Prof. Dr. Aygenç said, “We would like to thank the Near East Family, which proves the value they attach to science, art and people at every opportunity, and provides us with the motivation to create continuously.”