Discovering the Günsel Art Museum: A Growing Cultural Ecosystem at Our Campus
What Is the Importance of an Art Museum?
Art museums play a vital role not only in preserving artworks but also in contributing to art history through documentation, dating, protection, restoration, and scholarly research. They serve as the most reliable reference points for tracing the development of artistic production. With their expert staff and curated collections, museums provide crucial answers to questions such as “Who created what, and when?”—a challenge that has become increasingly complex in the postmodern art era.
Today, the histories of modern and contemporary art rely heavily on the collections and archives of art museums. Their accumulated knowledge helps define what art is and who is considered an artist. For living artists, having their work included in a museum collection is therefore a significant mark of prestige.
Why and How Was the Günsel Art Museum Founded?
The Günsel Art Museum is one of the cultural institutions established by the Günsel family, whose vision brings together tradition, identity, cultural intersections, and art with a strong commitment to societal unity. Founded in 2019, the museum relocated in 2025 to its new, modern setting within the Günsel Tower at Near East University.
Guided by the philosophy of our Founding Rector, Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel, who describes human beings as not only thinkers but also creators who seek beauty — “Sanattır insanın tanımı” (“Art defines humanity”) — the museum was built to share the artistic creativity and cultural identity of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with both national and international audiences.
The museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and documents modern and contemporary artworks while supporting the international visibility of Northern Cyprus’s cultural identity. It also fosters collaborations, supports artistic production, and makes art accessible to all audiences. Through its exhibitions and collections, the museum aims to cultivate a broad appreciation of the arts and encourage participation across all age groups.
What Do Art Museums Contribute to Society?
Museums are among the most influential educational settings through which nations transmit their cultural heritage to future generations. Their mission goes beyond preservation—they shape artistic and cultural understanding.
Artists throughout history visualized what they saw, felt, and experienced. Museums serve as the visual archive of these expressions. They allow future generations to observe what occurred in the past and reflect upon what they will leave behind. In this sense, an art museum is an educational institution in its own right.
Museums also strengthen moral and cultural values, enrich national identity, and encourage mutual respect and understanding among cultures. Visitors engage in observation, reflection, imagination, analysis, and connection-making—developing cognitive and aesthetic skills simultaneously. They gain awareness of cultural heritage, an appreciation for artistic value, and a sense of responsibility for preservation.
For art students in particular, the museum environment offers an irreplaceable educational experience. Rather than seeing artworks only in digital or printed form, students encounter them at full scale, observing materiality, texture, and spatial context. This enhances their attention to detail and deepens their interpretive abilities, providing a more powerful learning experience than theoretical instruction alone.
What Can Visitors Expect at the Günsel Art Museum?
Situated on the Near East University campus, the Günsel Art Museum spans 1,400 square meters within the Günsel Tower. Visitors will encounter sculptures and printmaking works reflecting 4,000 years of Cypriot history, pieces depicting ships from the Battle of Çanakkale, contemporary productions including painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking and video art, as well as the exhibition of GÜNSEL — the first domestic automobile of the Northern Cyprus.
In addition, visitors can enjoy the monthly exhibitions organized with great dedication by the academic staff and artists of the Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design. The active exhibition production of academic staff serves as a powerful model for art students, enhancing their motivation and helping them see themselves as part of a living artistic ecosystem.
Ultimately, the museum aims to nurture a future generation that appreciates, understands, and values art. Through its permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, the Günsel Art Museum offers visitors a comprehensive cultural experience where artistic creation and artistic observation come together.
