The Walled City Museum will keep the names of the Turkish Cypriot culture’s historical and cultural life alive with their hyperrealist silicone sculptures. In the collection to be exhibited in the Walled City Museum, TRNC’s Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, the icon of Turkish aviation Captain Cengiz Topel, who came to support the Turkish Air Force’s Erenköy battle in Cyprus in 1964 and was martyred by inhuman treatment, and the symbol of Turkish Cypriot shadow play Mehmet Ertuğ will take place in addition to many more names who have shaped the Turkish Cypriot culture in different fields.

Rauf Raif Denktaş, Cengiz Topel and Mehmet Ertuğ, as well as Jet Fighter Pilot Major Fehmi Ercan, who was martyred on the first day of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, were among the names whose hyperrealist silicon sculpture were studied at the Near East University Sculpture Workshop. Folk Poet Aynalı, the greatest representative of folk poetry tradition in Cyprus, and many other names such as Ahmet Becerikli and Mehmetaliler Music Group members who have an important place in Turkish Cypriot music, Mustafa Çoronik and Boyacı Rauf will take their place in the collection.

The Walled City Museum, which was opened by the Near East Enterprises in November 2020, aims to transfer the historical and cultural values of the TRNC, especially the values of Nicosia, where it is located, to future generations as a city museum. The hyperrealist silicon sculptures, which will be exhibited in the museum, aim to arouse interest in Turkish Cypriot history and culture, especially among young people.

Rauf Denktaş will come together with Dr. Küçük
Turkish Cypriot community leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük’s silicone statue is currently on display at the Walled City Museum. With the completion of the silicon statue of the TRNC’s Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, the two leading the independence struggle leader of the Turkish Cypriots will come together again at the Walled City Museum.

The iconic names of Turkish aviation, Jet Fighter Pilot Captain Cengiz Topel and Jet Fighter Pilot Major Fehmi Ercan are also among the names whose hyperrealist silicone sculptures have been made. Cengiz Topel was captured and martyred by torture after his plane was shot down during the operation carried out to support the Turkish Air Force’s Erenköy Battle in Cyprus on 8 August 1964. Major Fehmi Ercan was martyred on the first day of the 20 July 1974 Peace Operation. Both of our pilots are among the most important names in the struggle for independence of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Heroes of the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Life at the Walled City Museum
Silicone sculptures of many people who have an important place in the culture of the Turkish Cypriot community have also been crafted to be exhibited at the Walled City Museum. Turkish Cypriot Shadow Play artist Mehmet Ertuğ, Aynalı, the greatest representative of the folk poet and meddah tradition in Cyprus, Ahmet Becerikli, who has an important place in Turkish Cypriot music, and members of the Mehmetaliler Music Group, Mustafa Çoronik and Boyacı Rauf, who are among the important figures of Nicosia urban culture are among the names along with many others.

Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul: “As the Walled City Museum, we want to keep these valuable figures alive, bring them together with young generations and make them stay with us forever.”