Dear Students,

Art is a process of creation.
Art is a thrill.
It is a sensibility.
It is a powerful imagination.
It is the act of changing the world and people.
It is the outpicture of the inner world.
It is a different interpretation of what everyone sees the same.
Above all, it is PERCEPTION.
It is the expression, sharing and dynamism of emotions.

As Leonardo Da Vinci said, "All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.”
In the face of this fact, we also decided to add perception through art to this roof, which is the origin of knowledge.

The first step of the Uni-Art Project started with the words by Respected Hüsnü Özyeğin in Lütfü Kırdar Art Hall; “I want to see these young artists at our university.”

Later, goals were set to bring the project to life.

Creating the collection based on young artists was the first goal. In this way, young people studying at Özyeğin University would know, learn and recognize young artists of their generation and support them in the future.

Özyeğin University youth today, who will carry out their daily education and training life in a contemporary art environment, would be able to make more contemporary contributions to our country's journey to civilization as a generation of university students who notice their young artists, and thanks to the foundations laid, they would also have the chance to join forces with the artist of tomorrow.

After the goals, it is time to select the artists. Young artists to be selected were divided into three categories:

Artists without a gallery in the first category
Artists having a gallery and trying to announce their name in the second category
Young artists having international and/or domestic recognition and serving as an example to the young people in the first two categories in the third category.

A long research process began after the goals and criteria of the elections were determined. In this process, with the support of Ayşecan Özyeğin Oktay, young people not having a gallery were identified and reached out.

It was a great pleasure to share the project with them and to witness the production processes of many of them, to share their excitement. With the unifying power of art, we had the chance to have many memories and friends.

Meanwhile, a large part of the project was made up of young people not having a gallery. As the project phase continues, we are very pleased that many of their works have been found in well-known galleries, both in terms of the accuracy of our choices and on their behalf.

Afterwards, art gallery visits started for the 2nd and 3rd category selections. The fact that all art lovers supported the project and approached it with joy further increased our excitement.

And we realized the first step of the project with 86 works by 68 artists.

We wanted the selected works to be exhibited throughout the university and to create a new perspective for our students.

Because we knew, and we witnessed once again that the work of art can never live on its own. It always wants to meet an audience. It wants to be felt and known. By adding new meanings to the work they see, the audience can sometimes reach secrets that even the artist cannot see.

With this spirit and infrastructure, many works of art met with students at the Uni-Art project. It will continue to live as a family that grows and multiplies with young artists who come and add new works of art to the family.

The UNI-ART project, which I am trying to briefly summarize, is a special and exemplary work. Uni-Art is now owned by Özyeğin University youth with works created by the hearts of artists. I wish that they will take care of their projects and always hold the hand that their artists give and open up a place for themselves in the magical world of art.

Uni-Art Art Consultant
Neslihan Karaağaç