Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) and the Cyprus Turkish Education Foundation (KTEV) are launching a design competition on the theme of “DETAILS FROM OUR HISTORY” in memory of researcher, writer, and archaeologist Tuncer Bağışkan. This meaningful competition offers young talents the opportunity to bring contemporary interpretations to our cultural heritage, following in the footsteps of Tuncer Bağışkan’s valuable work on Cypriot culture, history, and archaeology.
The design competition “DETAILS FROM OUR HISTORY,” organised in collaboration with ARUCAD and KTEV, aims to remind younger generations of Cyprus’s rich cultural heritage and Bağışkan’s efforts to bring this heritage to light within scientific norms, and to keep this heritage alive. Participants are expected to reinterpret architectural details from Tuncer Bağışkan’s works, particularly from his book “Contemporary Interpretations of Ottoman, Islamic, and Islamized Artifacts in Cyprus,” from their own viewpoints.
Conditions of Participation and Categories
Students over 18 years old who are studying in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may participate in the competition by submitting their student certificates. Participants may submit works in three different categories: ceramics, photography, and sketches. Each participant may enter the competition with a maximum of two works in only one category.
- Ceramics Category: Participants may create works using ceramic materials and techniques, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 20x20x20 cm to a maximum of 70x70x70 cm.
- Photography Category: Black and white or colour photographs may have dimensions ranging from a minimum of 20×25 cm to a maximum of 50×60 cm.
- Sketches Category: Participants may enter the competition with two-dimensional works with a maximum size of A1.
Jury Members
The competition jury consists of experts and experienced professionals in their fields. For the Ceramics category, the jury members include Semral Öztan, KTEV Board of Trustees Member and Chair of the Art Committee; Hayal Dimililer, Ceramic Artist and Ceramics Teacher at Atatürk Vocational High School; and Mümine Özdemirağ Yağlı, Lecturer in the Ceramics Department of the Faculty of Arts at ARUCAD.
In the Photography category, the jury members include Mehmet Ali Serak, Photographer and KTEV Art Committee Member; Kadir Kaba, Researcher, Writer, and Photographer; and Emad Amlashi, Lecturer in the Visual Communication Design Department at ARUCAD’s Faculty of Communication.
In the Sketches category, the jury members are Birgül Beyatlı, Architect and KTEV Board of Trustees Member; Aslı Bolayır, Painter and Art Therapist; and Prof. Dr. Turan Aksoy, Faculty Member in the Department of Plastic Arts at ARUCAD.
Application Process and Awards
The deadline for participation in the competition is December 2, 2024. Participants may submit their works digitally along with their student certificates and other necessary documents through the website https://arucad.edu.tr/tarihimizden-detaylar-yarismasi/.
The entries will be evaluated, and the first, second, and third place winners in each category will be awarded, with these works also being exhibited.
Each category will be evaluated separately, and first, second, and third prizes will be awarded for each category. The prizes are as follows:
Ceramics – Photography – Sketches Categories:
First Prize: 400 USD
Second Prize: 250 USD
Third Prize: 150 USD
Additionally, the winning works will be included in the KTEV and ARUCAD collections and may be used in printed or visual media, preserved in the archive.
The competition results will be announced through ARUCAD and KTEV’s social media accounts, and details for the award ceremony will be shared in the coming days.
Detailed information about the competition may be found at arucad.edu.tr.
Who is Tuncer Bağışkan?
Tuncer Bağışkan was a Cypriot Turkish researcher, writer, and historian known for his pioneering work in preserving and promoting Cyprus’s rich cultural heritage. Particularly recognised for his in-depth research on Ottoman-era architecture and stonework, Bağışkan authored many valuable works on Cyprus’s historical structures, art history, and archaeological sites. His contributions are an important resource for understanding and preserving Cyprus’s cultural fabric.
“Contemporary Interpretations of Ottoman, Islamic, and Islamized Artifacts in Cyprus”
The book “Contemporary Interpretations of Ottoman, Islamic, and Islamized Artifacts in Cyprus,” written by Tuncer Bağışkan, examines the Ottoman and Islamic cultural heritage in Cyprus from a modern perspective. The book offers contemporary interpretations of artefacts that were either built or Islamised during the Ottoman and Islamic periods, deeply exploring their historical and cultural contexts. It is considered an essential resource for history and culture enthusiasts.