Mert Can Altun, a student in the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema at the Faculty of Communication of Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU), who has been diagnosed with SP+dystonia, presented his artwork immortalising the emotional moment of holding a child’s hand after the earthquake disaster to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, together with the President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, at the 2024-2025 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony.
The opening ceremony, held at the Beştepe National Congress and Culture Centre, was also attended by HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, HKU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Latife Özaydın, and third-year HKU Faculty of Communication Radio, Television and Cinema student Mert Can Altun, along with HKU academics and students.
Sharing Mert Can Altun’s excitement at this important moment, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli said: “The fact that Mert Can Altun, a student of our university’s Faculty of Communication, presented his work to our President, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the opening of the academic year has been a great source of pride, both for our university, which works constantly to overcome obstacles, and for the national and international recognition of our passionate young talents who are able to overcome them. By combining artificial intelligence technologies with an artistic vision, Mert Can has shown us all once again that obstacles can never stand in the way of dreams.”
Stating that presenting his work to President Erdoğan at such an important event was an unforgettable moment for him, Mert Can Altun said, “This moment is a source of inspiration not only for me, but for everyone who wants to overcome all obstacles and reach their dreams.” Altun, who said that he continues his work by combining his passion for art with artificial intelligence technologies despite his disability, emphasised that the President’s appreciation of his work was a great source of motivation for him and that he would continue his work with even greater determination.
Mert Can Altun, who carries out his artistic work using artificial intelligence technologies, had previously had his works shown in the “Roots & Soil” exhibition at The Grey Art Space Gallery in The Hague, the Netherlands.
