By Heidi Trautmann
The art of Exlibris goes back to times of the first books printed, a sort of a bookplate = Ex-Libris = Latin: From the books …from the library of …evidence of provenance of books…in times when one was still very proud of owning books, a bookplate carrying the name, a motto, a motif relating to the owner.
Exlibris is a graphic art form restricted to a small size, not more than 9x13 cm, usually done as woodcut, engraving on metal, silk-screen, etching or pen and ink on the finest paper. Famous people used to own their own bookplates and equally famous artists have executed them. Starting about a century ago the collecting of such bookplates worldwide became fashionable often through exchanging duplicates; societies have been founded around this passion and regular competitions are being held and friendships on the basis of this hobby have come into life.
On his 87th birthday Rauf Denktas had been informed about the launching of the competition in his name and it is told that he was very pleased to be the cause of promoting North Cyprus.
On May 18, 2012 the exhibition organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design,was opened at the Near East University in the Lobby of the Hospital. 163 artists from 23 countries contributed to the competition with 343 works of which 168 works were found worthy for display by the Jury of the Competition. The Jury Members were Prof. Dr. Uğurcan Akyüz from Faculty of Fine Arts of Hacettepe Üniversity, Assist Prof. Dr. Erdal Aygenç from Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of Near East University, Dr. Gökhan Okur from Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of Near East University, Dr. Erdoğan Ergün from Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of Near East University, and Lecturer Hilmi Özen from Faculty of Performing Arts of Near East University.
The prizes of the competition were awarded as follows:
The Achievement Awards went out to; Ryszard Balon (Poland), Burçin Demir (Turkey) and Emre Şengün (Turkey), the Honourable Mention went out to; Eren Demirbakan (Turkey), Murat Ertürk (Turkey), Ruba Kılınç (Turkey), Engin Korkmaz (Turkey) and Mauricio Schvarzman (Argentina), and the Encouragement Award went out to Gürkan Gökaşan (TRNC).
The Exhibition will be open for two weeks, starting from 18 May 2012 until June 1.
A most interesting and precious exhibition.