EMU INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS MUSEUM PROJECT AT EMU

Within the scope of this year’s Graduation Project, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture, 2023 – 2024 Academic Year Fall Semester INAR 492 / ITAS 402 Interior Architecture Workshop VI course launched “Contemporary Museum Interior and Neighborhood Design” project towards EMU art collection.

Launched with the aim of contributing to the collection, preservation and promotion of Turkish Cypriot artists’ artwork whether locally or abroad, EMU art collection consists of 423 artwork from 26 artists as of February 2019. In parallel with the development of the museum, it is aimed to expand the collection as well. Within the scope of the said course, a technical visit to the museum area located at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center was organized with the intention of introducing the Turkish Cypriot artists and their styles. The students visited the “Portraits, Styles and Stories” exhibition which has been on exhibition for a year. Students who had the chance to observe the work of Cypriot artists expressed their contentedness on being a part of the museum project.

The aim of the exhibition visit was to make the students’ mindsets visible by using contemporary education models in connection with examining the styles and techniques of local artists. It was also stated that educational programs including workshops for children, young people and adults were developed through the exhibition. The students of these two courses, which are carried out in parallel in the English and Turkish medium programs of Interior Architecture Department, met with EMU Art Coordinator and artist Zehra Şonya who provided information on the art collection and Cypriot artists. Regarding the museum structure during the visit; how each phase of the museum should be combined with creative design elements was discussed with the students and all technical and practical details, from lighting to materials, were emphasized.

Moreover, an interview with Cypriot artist Hüseyin Özinal was held at EMU, Department of Interior Architecture, in order for students to understand the different disciplines inherent in museum design and to get information from those disciplines. The aim of the conversation was for students to understand the different disciplines inherent in museum design and to obtain information about those disciplines. In this context, students will learn about the areas that Özinal opened up for himself as an artist through the museums and exhibitions he visited in different cities; They had the chance to hear from the artist about their own knowledge, way of seeing and experiences.

The technical visit and the talk were organized by course instructors; Prof. Dr. Özlem Olgaç Türker, Assist. Prof. Dr. Seyit Ermiyagil and research assistants Gülde Kasım and Şevin Emektar. With such different collaborative learning methods, graduate students and professionals also experienced interactive and practice-based learning methods by working as a team towards a common goal.