Journey through fantasy
A NEW art exhibition in the heart of Lefkoşa promises to take visitors on a “journey through fantasy”.
The Telsim-sponsored display of 18 different sized artworks by career diplomat Osman Ertuğ has gone on show at the Rüstem Book Shop on Girne Caddesi in Lefkoşa’s walled city.
Mr Ertuğ, who studied English Literature and Fine Arts/Design at Central Connecticut State University in the US, “creates an extraordinary space by blending the effects of psychedelic art, which took the world by storm during his student years, with mysticism and fantastic elements” a statement from Telsim said.
“As well as Ertuğ’s mixed technique paintings, the exhibition also includes posters, original prints and record cover designs he prepared during his student years,” Telsim added.
Mr Ertuğ, a former TRNC ambassador who is currently working as an adviser to President Ersin Tatar, told this newspaper: “Each picture depicts something different, has a different theme, if you will.
“Fantasy is the general trend that runs through most of them, representing my inner journey for freedom.
“This is when I aspire to leave behind the confines of everyday life and venture into the realm of fantasy, letting my imagination run wild!
“Of course there are other influences in these pictures, as no single label, or any label, can describe what is essentially a creative process.
“Most of them are subconscious as I try to capture a moment, a feeling, a scene from life, with its joy, awe, contradictions and complexity ending in a feast of colour and motifs in celebration of the Oneness of the universe.”
He said that the pictures were created using “anything from crayons to markers, pastels and spray paint as well as water colours”.
Asked why he had decided to exhibit his work now, Mr Ertuğ replied: “After 46 years in diplomacy dedicated to the defence of the Turkish Cypriot cause, my lifelong commitment, I thought the time had come to share the products of ‘my other side’ with the people.
“My daughter, Diler Ertuğ, an accomplished tattoo artist and a one-time reporter of Cyprus Today, together with her friend Halil, initiated, organised and physically did the work for the whole exhibition.
“I am grateful to them for helping me to break my ‘professional shell’ and expand, as I thank Ali Rüstem, the owner of the venue, for giving me the opportunity. I also thank Cyprus Today for covering it.”
The exhibition at Rüstem’s main gallery, which was opened last Friday and can be viewed free of charge during working hours, will be open to the public for “about a month”, Mr Ertuğ added.
For more information call the Rüstem Book Shop on (0392) 228 35 06.