Eastern Mediterranean University invites to the Bedesten in Nicosia

By Heidi Trautmann

A red carpet with huge candles at the side leading to the entrance gate of the Bedesten. We felt honoured. Music filled the big space within, the voice of an opera singer was reflected from the ceiling and reached us, the artists and guests who had come to see the results of an invitation by EMU to artists for their artistic interpretations of Purgatory – stuck between heaven and hell – stuck within the heap of social and political problems, helpless and hopeless.  …artists have been invited to share their opinion.

The exhibition of these artistic answers have now been shown at the Bedesten in Nicosia on the occasion of the new academic year of Eastern Mediterranean University in the name of its Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam. Zehra Şonya and her team have been setting up the exhibition within one week and the result is stunning. A festive atmosphere for 26 exhibits by 22 artists:

Arif Albayrak, Kemal B. Caymaz, Heidi Trautmann, Aşık Mene, Simge Uygur, Batu Gündal, Gönen Atakol, Hüseyin Özinal, Türksal Ince, Nilgün Güney, Tayland Oğuzkan, Serkan Ilseven, Osman Keten, Gökçe Keçeci, Eser Keçeci, Nilüfer Inandım, Mustafa Öztunç, Mehmet Ulubatlı, Bahar Çıralı, Şenol Özdevrim, Ismet Tatar, Inci Kansu.

The answers to the big question of stalemate, cul-de-sac situation, were worked in many different techniques, paintings, graphics, installations. Most interesting to learn the artists’ opinions. The human being in the centre on the one side, the situation of being trapped on the other, shown as graphics and installations, life in a pattern, life in a box.

The exhibition is open until October 04, 10:00 to 17:00 hrs.