Artist Elif Varol Ergen’s “Unseen Daughters” exhibition, which makes visible the representations of women that have been suppressed from mythology to the present day, will be opened by President Ersin Tatar on May 2nd at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center Exhibition Hall.

Artist Elif Varol Ergen’s solo exhibition “Unseen Daughters” will be opened at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center Exhibition Hall at 18:00 on Friday, May 2nd with the participation of President Ersin Tatar.

The exhibition, which aims to make visible the female identities that society ignores, suppresses and excludes, is inspired by mythological figures such as Eve, who was expelled from heaven by God, and Lilith, who chose to leave heaven herself. The exhibition presents a strong questioning of women’s lives surrounded by family structure, gender roles and cultural codes, while expressing the representations of women that are attempted to be suppressed in individual and collective memory with an artistic language. “Unseen Daughters”, which includes 37 works consisting of printmaking and illustrations, is also the 472nd exhibition of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts. The exhibition can be visited free of charge until May 30.

Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Ergün: “We need art not to show us the world we see/can see, but to show us what we cannot see.”

Curated by Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Vice Dean and GÜNSEL Art Museum Director Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Ergün, emphasizing Paul Klee’s statement, “Art does not reproduce what is visible; on the contrary, it makes it visible.” said, “These words seem to have been said exactly for this exhibition. We need art not to show us the world we see/can see; but to enrich our perspective, to show us beauties, truths, realities, and what we cannot see.”

“Artists show us different perspectives, different views. This exhibition consists of artist Elif Varol Ergen’s printmaking and illustrations that address issues such as women’s rights, gender discrimination, parent-child relationships with strong linear narratives and that will trigger our sense of wonder,” said Prof. Dr. Ergün, adding, “I sincerely invite all art lovers and our people to this exhibition.”

Elif Varol Ergen is an artist and academic who has been trying to make themes such as women’s rights, gender discrimination, parent-child relationships and the subconsciousness visible through her art for over 14 years. The artist, who often uses feminist discourses, women’s interpretations in esoteric sources and mythological metaphors in her works, reflects strong and rebellious female characters with a dark narrative language.

Elif Varol Ergen, who has been working as a faculty member at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Graphics for over 16 years, completed her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral education at the same university.

Her artistic productions have been exhibited in Turkey, as well as in Germany and the United States. She has been deemed worthy of various national and international awards. Her art writings and illustrations have appeared in many international art and design magazines; her first art book was published in New York in 2017. She is currently an Associate Professor at Hacettepe University.