By Heidi Trautmann

The Association of Cyprus Paper Artists is now three years old and to celebrate this date and the work done so far, a member exhibition was planned, first to be hold in Istanbul but then postponed to be shown in Nicosia, in a beautiful old house in the Arabahmet Quarter, in Tanzimut Sokak 54. The place has been rented by the Cyprus American University as a Studio for art work and was offered to KKSD for this year’s member exhibition.  The exhibition was organized by Imge Tonyalı and Dr. Gökçe Keçeci Şekeroğlu , both staff members of the art faculty of the University and also members of  KKSD and participating artists. The Association was extremely grateful for their expertise in setting up the exhibition.

The exhibition was opened by the President of the Association, Ismet Tatar, with words of welcome to our First Lady Meral Akinçı and the many guests;  she gave a short introduction to the background history of the association also thanking the Cyprus American University and organizing team for the setup of the association’s member exhibition. (see attachment at the bottom of the page).

Our First Lady Meral Akinçı commented in her opening speech with warm words coming from the heart. See the small video a) here. On the occasion of a visit by association members Ismet Tatar and Inci Kansu, the author was also present, Meral Hanim had already been given the background and aim of our association. 

The atmosphere of the site was very warm and positive and radiated a special charm coming from the beautiful old Cypriot architecture. In three rooms the works by 16 artists* have been on display, works of  great and unbelievable creativity around the phenomenon of paper and handmade paper, within its wide range of  applicability and sources; sculptures, installations, collages, as carrier of history, culture , stories and fables; paper made from nature, vegetables, tomatoes, onions, chestnuts, all things that contain fibres.

*Asli Bolayir, Bedia Kale, Canan Topaloğlu, Emel Samioğlu, Eser Keçeci, Gökçe Keçeci, Heidi Trautmann, Imge Tonyalı, Inci Kansu, Ismet Tatar, Kemal Behçet Caymaz, Mustafa Öztunç, Omid Kalantar Motamedi, Roya Alagheband, Simge Uygur, Sophia Hadjipapa-Gee.

Each individual artwork conveyed a different artistic message but also contained a hint to environmental protection: paper can be reused and turned into beautiful art, as had been shown in several important paper making workshops the association was holding. In a further sense of the meaning of paper making , the industry for household or fast-food  restaurant articles,  could be obtaining an impulse for thought and research to use this material instead of plastic.

Two small videos show here a) the opening speech by Meral Akinçı and b) Inci Kansu explaining the vegetable paper sheets she brought to display in the exhibition.

a)      https://www.facebook.com/kibriskagitsanatcilaridernegi/videos/606678109750378/

b)      https://www.facebook.com/kibriskagitsanatcilaridernegi/videos/754622864900836/

As a further attachment to this review the reader will find an introductory text on KKSD ‘The young Association of Cyprus Paper Artists – its development and its tasks’.

The exhibition will still be open until November 21, daily from 10:00 – 17:00 hrs. A parking area is nearby at the maut, opposite the Ledra Palace. The Tanzimut Sokak is parallel to the road along the maut.