“Türkiye, from a Diplomat’s Canvas” Exhibition Launches in Kuala Lumpur
Yunus Emre Institute continues to organize activities aimed at promoting Türkiye effectively through its centers established in various parts of the world, as well as hosting events that unite art enthusiasts.
The Institute contributed to the opening of the exhibition titled “Türkiye, from a Diplomat’s Canvas” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital.
The solo exhibition by Derya Atabey Köksal, a member of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Kuala Lumpur, featuring unique works that depict Türkiye’s captivating cultural and architectural richness in oil paintings, received significant attention.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition, hosted by the Institute, was attended by Emir Salim Yüksel, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Kuala Lumpur, Ömer Altun, Coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute in Kuala Lumpur, foreign mission chiefs, representatives from local institutions, art enthusiasts, and special guests.
“We are endeavoring to showcase our country’s cultural richness in Malaysia”
In his speech at the event, Ambassador Emir Salim Yüksel stated, “We are endeavoring to showcase our country’s cultural richness in Malaysia. Our esteemed colleague Derya Atabey Köksal’s initiative to share her paintings of Türkiye with art enthusiasts in Malaysia was a valuable project, benefiting both the promotion of our country and the support of our friend. I would like to thank both her and the Yunus Emre Institute for their support.”
“I tried to depict the rich cultural heritage and natural beauties of my country from an artistic perspective”
Commenting on the exhibition, Derya Atabey Köksal said, “The idea of creating oil paintings of Türkiye’s beautiful locations excited me from the start, blending my passion for art with the longing I’ve accumulated during my 7 years of service abroad, aiming to promote my country in Malaysia. For a year, without interrupting my work and family responsibilities, I painted at night to unwind from the day and nourish my soul. I tried to depict the rich cultural heritage and natural beauties of my country from an artistic perspective.”
“Our guests’ expressed desire to visit Türkiye at the earliest opportunity was very gratifying”
Köksal went on to add, “In our exhibition, thanks to the great support of the Yunus Emre Institute, we included QR codes on each canvas, providing explanations about the depicted locations and even featuring videos. Thus, we transformed our exhibition into an interactive showcase that offers visitors a more comprehensive introduction to our country. The positive comments from our guests at the opening, along with their expressed desire to visit Türkiye at the earliest opportunity, were very gratifying. As a diplomat, I am deeply pleased and proud to have represented our country not only in the diplomatic arena but also through the arts, thereby contributing to the promotion of our nation. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ambassador Mr. Salim Yüksel and Ömer Altun, Coordinator of the Yunus Emre Institute in Kuala Lumpur, along with their team, for their invaluable support throughout this process.”
The “Türkiye, from a Diplomat’s Canvas” exhibition will be available for art enthusiasts at the Yunus Emre Institute in Kuala Lumpur until July 10, 2024.