Solo exhibition and Honouring at the Near East University

By Heidi Trautmann

Within the framework of establishing a wide and informative spectrum of the visual arts in North Cyprus, the Cyprus Modern Art Museum at the Near East University has for the last months brought to display the riches of the museum, lately there were art exhibitions of some former Soviet Union countries, the latest being Ukraine, I will show some paintings of that exhibition in a separate file.

Now, on April 12, a solo exhibition of our well-known art photographer Buket Özatay was opened in order to show her the appreciation she deserves. Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul (Head of the Faculty of History and Atatürk Research Centre) opened the row of speeches describing the vision of unifying sciences and the arts which are the base of a country’s history.

H.E. Mustafa Akıncı and his wife Meral have been present at the ceremony and it was from M.Akıncı’s hands that Buket Özatay received the award. A special surprise was then unveiled, a bust of the artist made after a photograph of her. I could see that Buket was obviously most surprised and amused.

The ribbon was then cut to open the exhibition with hundreds of Buket’s photos taken on many travels worldwide. She is a very strong art photographer with a great sense of humanity, a feeling for composition and is technically unbeaten. She has received many awards from international photography associations. She is especially being known and appreciated as organizer of the yearly art photography competition in honour of her father Öztan Özatay. The outcome of this year’s competition will be shown from April 16 – 27 at the Atatürk Cultural Centre.

I have seen many of her work during the last years and I do hope that it will be one day shown in a complete album. Buket Özatay is also teaching photography and I would join one of her courses if I were a little younger.

My best wishes go with her.