By Ahmet Abdulaziz ….
In a befitting informal ceremony, Mr. Ali Tekman, presented a sculpture crafted by his late father Şinası Tekman, to be placed in the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts.
The late Şinası Tekman was the first Turkish Cypriot sculptor, who earned a great name, by carving human figures and portraits out of raw wooden pieces.
According to the press information released by the Press and Public Relations Directorate of Near East University, emotional moments were experienced at the time of the donation of the wooden sculpture to the museum by Ali Tekman, the son of Şinasi Tekman.
Tekman said, “I am very excited about the project of the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts initiated by the Near East family, and I am sure that if my father was alive, he would be very enthusiastic and happy about the fact that his work would take place amongst the dearest artists in every field of the world through this museum.
Tekman said “This initiative of the Near East University will add value to the universal values of art and is a praiseworthy project. When the complex of the museum is completed, the scene will be very spectacular … My father used to say “the greatest artist is nature and I only contribute to the material that she presents us with on behalf of art and after reshaping it, I present it for the appreciation of humanity…”
Ali Tekman expressed his gratitude to the Near East University, Founding Rector Dr. Suat İ. Günsel and to those who contributed to this great project , and wished every success to the Near East Family.
Who is Şinasi Tekman?
Şinasi Tekman was born in 1933 in the village of Arçoz (Yiğitler) in Cyprus. 
The father of Tekman was Ali Mehmet Carcuni (Berber) and his mother Mrs. Şifa. He attended primary school in the village and conducted his middle and high school education in Nicosia as a boarder.
Between 1950-1952, Tekman published his first literary work in the “Çığ-Avalanche” magazine published by the Turkish High School students and in 1952 he passed the Teachers College examination. In 1954, Tekman was appointed as a primary school teacher.
In 1955, he was appointed to the Primary School of Paphos and in 1956 to Lefke Primary School.
He studied crafts at King Alfred’s College in Winchester, England between 1956-58. After completing his education in the UK, he continued to teach at a secondary school in 1959, and until 1968 he worked as a teacher, deputy headmaster, and headmaster at Lefke Gazi High School.
In 1959, he opened his first fully equipped ceramic workshop at the Lefke Technical High School which was the first in the Turkish schools. Between 1963 and 1967, he also served as a Mujahideen while teaching for the Lefke Gazi High School.
In 1968, he was appointed to the British College which was then named Turkish Maarif (Education) College. From 1958 onwards, he used the olive trees, wooden materials dragged through the rivers, sea waste wood fragments, wastes of wood from forest fires, and burnt tree stumps to craft his works.
Tekman was also known for his poetry. His poems and stories were published in magazines such as “Çardak-Pergola” and “Çevre-Environment”. Şinasi Tekman, who opened many mixed and personal exhibitions throughout his life, passed away in 2005.
Note from Ahmet Abdulaziz: I happened to know late Şinası Tekman, since 1995. He was the main force behind organising the first exhibition of my paintings in TRNC, in 1996.
