By Heidi Trautmann

It was on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on March 07 that art works by a group of women artists from Cyprus and Turkey were shown at the Bedesten in Nicosia. The exhibition was opened by President Mustafa Akıncı and his wife Meral.  Unfortunately I could not attend but went two days later in the morning which from a photographer’s point of view is preferable as I want to take a good look at the works displayed and not to record who attended.

32 names were given on the poster, none of them was known to me but I have also so far not attended an exhibition with mosaic work nor have I been aware of people working in this field on the island.  It says that Gülsüm Karadayi and Gülçin Sökücü, both mosaic artists have organised the event.

The theme My Mosaic Hat was most appropriately and definitely met and I had lots of fun to study them, besided ladies’ hats I found a stetson and a top hat done with love; the idea was picked up using different materials as well, for example a copper pipe or – very clever – a bunch of cut off forks.

All around the walls of the wide hall pictures were on display, laid out as mosaic – some most colourful, others graphic or in the style of or copies of ancient mosaic found in Turkey. Some very beautiful in design.

To meet the purpose, i.e. to help children with Leukaemia and the Fight against Cancer under the roof of the Kemal Saracoglu Foundation, other works such as oil paintings were added.

I hope that the exhibition has met their expectations.  The exhibition closed on March 14.

Enjoy the photos I have taken for my readers.