06/10/2025
Art and Academia Came Together at the Opening of the Academic Year
İstinye University welcomed the 2025–2026 Academic Year with a celebration that intertwined culture, art, and academia. The living legend of Turkish painting and “Poet of Painting,” Prof. Devrim Erbil, together with artist and curator Renk Erbil, met art enthusiasts at İstinye University with their exhibition “The Colors of Devrim.”
Officially opened on October 6, the exhibition will remain on view until December 6 at the Main Campus Foyer Area. As part of the Academic Year Opening Ceremony, where the exhibition launch also took place, the university shared its vision for the next decade and honored distinguished members of its community who made outstanding contributions through their work.
Recognizing Excellence at the Academic Opening Ceremony
During the ceremony, Academic Incentive Awards, Distinguished İstinye Members Awards, and Social Contribution Awards were presented to academics and students who have stood out with their scientific productivity, community engagement, and contributions to the university’s vision. The event also showcased success stories that highlight İstinye University’s research capacity and its growing social impact.
Rector Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş emphasized the University’s vision with his words:
“Making a positive contribution to humanity and the environment, embracing quality, and fostering human-centered change and transformation are essential for institutions in today’s rapidly evolving world. Our vision—built on student and learning orientation, strengthened by research and technology, and aligned with quality, sustainability, ethics, and values—forms the foundation of our outlook for the next decade.
We are a university not only of science but also of culture and art. We will continue to keep social contribution, culture, and the arts among our main priorities.”
“Anatolia Is a Land of Invaluable Artistic Heritage”
As part of the exhibition’s opening, Prof. Devrim Erbil delivered a conference titled “The Meaning of Art” for university students and academics. He emphasized that art is not only an aesthetic form of expression but also a powerful medium that nurtures human thought, emotion, and social transformation, sharing reflections from his lifelong artistic journey. Prof. Devrim Erbil stated:
“I am very happy to see the youth of Türkiye united on this path of progress, following in Atatürk’s footsteps. Like you, I once sat in these same classrooms, and I have devoted myself to spreading art and contributing to the enlightenment of Anatolia.
Western-oriented art can only be a reproduction of Western techniques. Yet, the land of Anatolia holds priceless artistic value. Art is as old as human history. It is a psychophysiological instinct that has contributed to humanity’s sociological and psychological development. Art continuously changes, evolves, and drives the progress of civilizations.”
An Artistic Journey Bridging Generations
On display for two months at İstinye University, “The Colors of Devrim” offers a remarkable selection that makes the artistic dialogue between generations visible. Seeing art as “a form of expression equal to poetry,” Prof. Devrim Erbil reflects his passion for Istanbul and nature through rhythmic lines across oil paintings, engravings, tapestries, silk prints, and mixed media works.
Renk Erbil, on the other hand, reconstructs the relationship between color, form, and space through a contemporary visual lens in her geometric abstractions, bringing her curatorial perspective to the exhibition as well. The show also features a special collection co-signed by father and daughter, blending Devrim Erbil’s distinctive lines with Renk Erbil’s geometric aesthetic.
A Meaningful Contribution to Art
By opening the 2025–2026 Academic Year with this impactful artistic event, İstinye University invites audiences on an inspiring journey that spans from the rich legacy of Turkish painting to contemporary interpretations. Through “The Colors of Devrim,” the university reinforces its presence in the cultural and artistic sphere while continuing to share the unifying and transformative power of art with students, academics, and society, reflecting its interdisciplinary vision for growth.
Click here to access all the Academic Year Opening Ceremony photographs.
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