The group exhibition titled “June”, exclusively prepared for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of the Near East University, was opened by the Minister of Health, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, at the Exhibition Hall of the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center.

Bringing together 50 works of award-winning artist-academicians consisting of painting, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass and print paintings, the Fine Arts June Exhibition will be open to visitors free of charge until 15 July.

At the opening ceremony attended by many guests, Near East University Fine Arts Design Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and the Minister of Health of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra made speeches.

İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra: “States that value culture and art have the honor of being recorded as great civilizations in the pages of history.”
Minister of Health, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, who opened the Fine Arts June Exhibition, started her speech by saying “States that value culture and art will be honored to be recorded as great civilizations in the pages of history.” Minister Gürçağ Altuğra said, “Successes that cannot be achieved sometimes with diplomacy and sometimes with the economic power of nations can sometimes be achieved with works of art and artistic production. The power of influence and transformation of culture and art has become so important that it cannot be compared with the past times.” Minister of Health, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra also said, “At this point, our duty is to produce new works and values ​​that will be undersigned in the fields of culture, art and architecture, and to protect these values ​​that will set an example for future generations.”

Gürçağ Altuğra said, “Our universities should not only achieve academic achievements, but also touch the lives of societies. Near East University is one of the distinguished universities of our country in many fields such as science, culture, art and health. On this occasion, I sincerely congratulate everyone who contributed to these art events, especially our Founding Rector Suat Günsel and his family, who created a school with his passion for art. In addition, I would like to share my happiness in opening this exhibition, which features works by valuable artists as the 416th exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts.” Minister of Health, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, ended her speech with the saying of the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, “A nation without art means that one of its veins has been severed”.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “History shows that no social rise that is not fed by science and art has the power to leave permanent traces.”
Speaking at the opening of the Fine Arts June Exhibition, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ started his speech by emphasizing that history shows that no social rise that is not fed by science and art has the power to leave permanent traces. Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “Every project kneaded with the rising art, science and technology on the Near East University Campus is regarded as the lifeblood reaching the roots of our country, which continues to take root in the Mediterranean with its determination to carry its existence into the future.”

Stating that it would be difficult to talk about Near East Enterprises’ achievements together with its universities, museums and other institutions, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ emphasized that these successes will continue to bear fruit in the coming months with many big projects such as the Near East University Yeniboğaziçi Hospital and Yeniboğaziçi Grand Library, which were brought to the opening phase in Yeniboğaziçi.

Reminding that the exhibition opened is the 416th exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “As you can appreciate, it would not be easy to generate the motivation to create this productivity without a great vision and purpose. The motivation behind this productivity of our artists, who continue their artistic production at the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of our Near East University, lies in their determination to transform the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus into one of the largest art centers in the Mediterranean and the world. Moreover, not only with exhibitions, but also with the inventory of 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, which is created with an understanding that integrates contemporary art with history, the size of the collections exceeds 100 thousand pieces”.

Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç: “Every breakthrough in science, art, education, technology, health and sports with the signature of the Near East and Günsel, are strong indicators of what kind of culture and value understanding has been adopted by Near East Enterprises.”
Starting his speech by saying “I thank you for honoring the opening of the Fine Arts June Exhibition, which is the 416th exhibition we have prepared for the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts”, Near East University Fine Arts Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç continued his speech as follows; “Every breakthrough in science, art, education, technology, health and sports with the signature of the Near East and Günsel, are strong indicators of what kind of culture and value understanding has been adopted by Near East Enterprises.”

Prof. Dr. Aygenç, “I would like to express my gratitude to our Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel and the entire Günsel family once again.”