By Heidi Trautmann

In the heart of old Nicosia is Rüya Resat’s studio, a traditional Nicosian house, a place her students used to come to for her studies and as they told me, they felt the same as I did whenever I entered this house: it was full of sunshine. It is the colours she chose, her paintings of red and yellow, the roses she loved, the way she had decorated the rooms, very French, as she was herself, an image of positivity and love of life.

She has left us, but her studio is to remain open. Her sister Hulya and her family have worked hard to get the house ready for the presentation to her friends. Hulya has sorted all of Rüya’s paintings, drawings, her books and tools, articles about her career and articles of farewell. She has well succeeded in conserving Rüya’s style of thinking.

The official opening to the public will be in September with three days open during the week and everybody can come and study her work. Until then, there are still some preparations to be done. It will also be a venue for cultural events, such as poetry readings or small concerts.

What a lovely idea to have a place where a wonderful person can be remembered without time interfering.