13 April 2016•Update: 22 April 2016
By Mahmut Atanur
BEIJING
Turkey is hoping that an exhibition by a Turkish artist in Taiwan's highest building -- the world's ninth tallest -- will facilitate greater understanding between the two cultures, with artist Ahmet Yesil gifting a painting to Taiwan to highlight the friendship.
Ismet Erikan, representative of the Turkish Trade Office in Taiwan, said in an email sent to Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that such events create better understanding between participants.
"In December, Turkish and Taiwanese artists will [also] come together to create a picture of Istanbul from 100 smaller images... This will enhance relations and promote our country [Turkey]," he added.
The exhibition -- which opened last week and continues until April 29 -- involves images by the Mersin-based artist, who uses rope and threads to create pictures -- such as waves and trees -- in bold colors.
Mersin is a southern district of Turkey on the Mediterranean sea.
Gallery chair Joseph Chou said at the opening of the exhibition -- named Undated Diaries -- that Yesil was the first non-Taiwanese artist to display paintings in the gallery, which occupies the ground floor of 101-floor skyscraper Taipei 101 in Taipei.
Up until 2007, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world.
The exhibition is a joint project of the Trade office and Taipei 101, under the sponsorship of Turkish Airlines.
On Sept. 29 -- Turkey's Republic Day -- the gallery also hosted a joint project with the Turkish office that saw Taipei 101 lit up in the colors of the Turkish flag.
Turkish Airlines has said it plans to increase flights out of Taiwan in the near future.
Around 50,000 Taiwan nationals visited Turkey in the last three years, according to the Turkish office
* Anadolu Agency Correspondent Leyla Karayilan contributed to this story from Ankara
