Ismet Güney
Encyclopedia
İsmet Vehit Güney was a Cypriot
artist
, cartoonist
, teacher
and painter
. He is best known as the designer of the modern flag
of the Republic of Cyprus, the country's coat of arms
and the original Cyprus lira
in 1960. Güney's design was unique, as the Republic of Cyprus was the first and only country in the world to display a map on its flag, until the recent flag of Kosovo
.
, Cyprus
. He began painting while he was a student in high school. After graduating from the Teachers Training College, he started working as an arts teacher in 1948.
From 1948 to 1977 he attended Lefkoşa Erkek Lisesi teaching Art and History. In 1956, he met artist Ibrahim Çallı and worked with him until 1960.
In 1947, Güney became the first Turkish Cypriot painter to open a solo art exhibition
. Güney had many solo exhibitions as well as participating in group exhibitions both in Cyprus and abroad. In 1967, a scholarship enabled him to study at Belfast Queen's University's Stranmills College. In 1986 he had a grand retrospective exhibition in Nicosia. Towards the end of his life he worked on graphics and color-separation in North Cyprus.
Before the flag of Cyprus
was introduced, the flags of Turkey
and Greece
were used. The current flag was created as the result of a design competition in 1960. Under the constitution, the flag should not include either red or blue colors (the colours of the flag of Turkey and the flag of Greece), nor portray a cross or a crescent. All participants deliberately avoided use of these four elements in an attempt to make the flag "neutral". Thus the Greek blue and Turkish red were avoided by Güney and the other design competitors.
The winning design was based on the proposal by İsmet Güney. The design was chosen by Makarios III
, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, with the consent of Fazil Küçük
, the then Vice-President, in 1960.
The white flag was chosen for the young Cyprus as a sign of peace
among the two communities living there (Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots). The map of the island is golden yellow, for the sake of easier reproduction of what was originally intended to be a colour of copper
, a metal that the island got its name from. Most probably, since there is no brownish-reddish-copper colour in heraldry, the map was changed to golden. The two green olive branches symbolize peace between the two communities of the island.
Currently, only the government-controlled southern part of Cyprus uses Guney's original since the division of the island in 1974.
Guney sought payment from the government of the Republic of Cyprus for his flag design, in addition to compensation
for its copyright
use in 2006. Güney was reportedly promised £20 a year by Makarios for designing the national flag
, but he was never paid for his work, according to reports by the Turkish Cypriot media. Guney had hired a Greek Cypriot law firm
to take his case, and had stated that he would take his case to the European Court of Human Rights
if needed.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He is best known as the designer of the modern flag
Flag of Cyprus
The flag of Cyprus came into use on August 16, 1960, under the Zürich and London Agreements, whereby a constitution was drafted and Cyprus was proclaimed an independent state. The flag was designed by Turkish Cypriot art teacher İsmet Güney....
of the Republic of Cyprus, the country's coat of arms
Coat of arms of Cyprus
The coat of arms of Cyprus depicts a dove carrying an olive branch over “1960”, the year of Cypriot independence from British rule...
and the original Cyprus lira
Cypriot pound
The pound, also known as the lira , was the currency of Cyprus, including the Sovereign Base Areas in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, until 31 December 2007, when the Republic of Cyprus adopted the euro...
in 1960. Güney's design was unique, as the Republic of Cyprus was the first and only country in the world to display a map on its flag, until the recent flag of Kosovo
Flag of Kosovo
The flag of the Republic of Kosovo was adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo immediately following the declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosovo from Serbia on 17 February 2008. The flag is the result of an international design competition, organized by the United Nations-backed Kosovo...
.
Background
Güney was born in 1932 in LimassolLimassol
Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. He began painting while he was a student in high school. After graduating from the Teachers Training College, he started working as an arts teacher in 1948.
From 1948 to 1977 he attended Lefkoşa Erkek Lisesi teaching Art and History. In 1956, he met artist Ibrahim Çallı and worked with him until 1960.
In 1947, Güney became the first Turkish Cypriot painter to open a solo art exhibition
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
. Güney had many solo exhibitions as well as participating in group exhibitions both in Cyprus and abroad. In 1967, a scholarship enabled him to study at Belfast Queen's University's Stranmills College. In 1986 he had a grand retrospective exhibition in Nicosia. Towards the end of his life he worked on graphics and color-separation in North Cyprus.
Creation of the Cyprus flag
Flag of Cyprus
The flag of Cyprus came into use on August 16, 1960, under the Zürich and London Agreements, whereby a constitution was drafted and Cyprus was proclaimed an independent state. The flag was designed by Turkish Cypriot art teacher İsmet Güney....
was introduced, the flags of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
were used. The current flag was created as the result of a design competition in 1960. Under the constitution, the flag should not include either red or blue colors (the colours of the flag of Turkey and the flag of Greece), nor portray a cross or a crescent. All participants deliberately avoided use of these four elements in an attempt to make the flag "neutral". Thus the Greek blue and Turkish red were avoided by Güney and the other design competitors.
The winning design was based on the proposal by İsmet Güney. The design was chosen by Makarios III
Makarios III
Makarios III , born Andreas Christodolou Mouskos , was the archbishop and primate of the autocephalous Cypriot Orthodox Church and the first President of the Republic of Cyprus ....
, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, with the consent of Fazil Küçük
Fazil Küçük
Fazıl Küçük was the first Vice President of the Republic of Cyprus.Fazıl Küçük, the son of a farmer, was born in Nicosia in 1906. After graduating from the Turkish High School in Nicosia, Küçük went on to study medicine at the Universities of Istanbul, Lausanne and Paris...
, the then Vice-President, in 1960.
The white flag was chosen for the young Cyprus as a sign of peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
among the two communities living there (Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots). The map of the island is golden yellow, for the sake of easier reproduction of what was originally intended to be a colour of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, a metal that the island got its name from. Most probably, since there is no brownish-reddish-copper colour in heraldry, the map was changed to golden. The two green olive branches symbolize peace between the two communities of the island.
Currently, only the government-controlled southern part of Cyprus uses Guney's original since the division of the island in 1974.
Guney sought payment from the government of the Republic of Cyprus for his flag design, in addition to compensation
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
for its copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
use in 2006. Güney was reportedly promised £20 a year by Makarios for designing the national flag
National flag
A national flag is a flag that symbolizes a country. The flag is flown by the government, but usually can also be flown by citizens of the country.Both public and private buildings such as schools and courthouses may fly the national flag...
, but he was never paid for his work, according to reports by the Turkish Cypriot media. Guney had hired a Greek Cypriot law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
to take his case, and had stated that he would take his case to the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
if needed.