The “His Life in Photographs and His Own Words; Rauf R. Denktaş Exhibition,” prepared by Mine Kar and Cem Kar, was turned into a virtual exhibition by Abrakadabra Communication Management (ACM Cyprus).
Hundreds of photographs were carefully selected from among the 50,000 in Denktaş’s photo archive for the virtual exhibition, published at www.denktassergi.com. These photographs were scanned and contextualized using both Denktaş’s own books and other books featuring his words.
Alongside unseen photographs and words that shed light on the private life of Rauf Denktaş, Founding President of the TRNC, and the history of Cyprus, the virtual exhibition features photographs of his childhood, family, years of struggle, and images taken through his own lens.
How Was Denktaş’s Image with the Two Flags Created?
The virtual exhibition also provides information about the image of Denktaş with two flags (Turkey and the TRNC) that is now used by everyone. The image, created by Mine Kar and inspired by the poem “I Have Two Flags,” which Denktaş recited, uses a photograph taken as Denktaş and Turkish President Abdullah Gül posed for the press while shaking hands during Denktaş’s official visit to Turkey. The information accompanying the image says that the flags shown are the giant flags in the garden of the Civil Defence Organisation Headquarters in Kermiya, Nicosia.
Kar said, “The life of our Founding President, and consequently the history of the Turkish Cypriot struggle, has been made accessible to all humanity.”
Commenting on the virtual exhibition, Mine Kar, its curator, emphasized that people had difficulty accessing it at the places where it was exhibited, and said, “Thanks to this work being turned into a virtual exhibition by ACM Cyprus using today’s technology, the life of our Founding President, and consequently the history of the Turkish Cypriot struggle, has been made accessible to all humanity.
“In the coming period, the exhibition will be translated into different languages and made available to those interested in history. There is no doubt that there will be information that people will want to add to the exhibition we have prepared. In this regard, we would like to say that we are open to all ideas. Those interested in history can contribute by sending photographs and information they would like to add to ACM Cyprus at info@acmcyprus.com. For these reasons, I would like to thank everyone who has helped bring the exhibition into the virtual world or who will contribute by making suggestions in the future.”
The exhibition will continue to open in various cities in Turkey in the coming period According to information provided by exhibition organizers Mine Kar and Cem Kar, the exhibition, revised to mark the 10th anniversary of Founding President Rauf R. Denktaş’s passing, will continue to open in various cities in Turkey in the coming period. As part of this, the exhibition is currently open to visitors at Ercan Airport and Kayseri University.