‘To Live, It Is Necessary to Age’ photo exhibition opened for visit at MAKÜ

The photo exhibition themed “One Must Age to Live,” organized in collaboration with the Center for Aging Studies Application and Research (YAŞAM) and the Happiness Studies Coordination, was presented to art lovers with a ceremony.

The exhibition, which will remain open at the MAKÜ Conference and Exhibition Hall between April 8-11, 2025, features 82 different elderly portraits from all over Turkey. The exhibition, which deals with the themes of aging, labor, and happiness, awaits visitors with impressive frames that bear the traces of life.

The opening ribbon of the exhibition was cut with the participation of National Education Director Muhammed Özdemirci, MAKÜ Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy, YAŞAM Center Director Assoc. Dr. Deniz Say Şahin, Happiness Studies Coordinator Assoc. Dr. Gökmen Arslan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Yusuf Keyik, nursing home residents, Burdur Veterans Association President Hasan Okyar, All Retirees Association President Mahmut Kalkan, political party representatives, academicians, and students.

Speaking at the opening, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy emphasized that aging is a symbol of labor in life and thanked all academicians and students who contributed to the preparation of the exhibition.

YAŞAM Center Director Assoc. Dr. Deniz Say Şahin, in her speech, emphasized that aging is a chance and said:

“One must age to live. Aging does not mean falling behind in production; on the contrary, it means sharing the labor, accumulation, and value of a lifetime. With 2025 being declared the ‘Year of the Family,’ we aimed to increase intergenerational interaction and highlight the role of elderly individuals in the family structure. With this exhibition, we want to show that aging is a blessing and that life is a labor sustained together.”

Happiness Studies Coordinator Assoc. Dr. Gökmen Arslan also drew attention to the thematic structure of the exhibition in his speech:

“While planning this exhibition, we focused not only on the theme of aging but also on the concept of happiness. We tried to reflect these two powerful themes together in our photographs. This exhibition, which emerged with the contributions of our students, academicians, our rectorate, and our stakeholders, is the product of great labor. The continuity of such works is very valuable to us.”

After the speeches, Burdur Mayor Ali Orkun Ercengiz, MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, and other guests toured the exhibition and examined the works.

The exhibition, open to visitors for three days, can be visited free of charge by the people of Burdur, students, and academicians. The event serves as an example of efforts aimed at raising awareness about aging and happiness.