Hüseyin Çakmak: Alper Susuzlu has fought through his art

Alper Susuzlu, Founding Member and First General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Cartoonists Association, and an internationally renowned cartoonist, was laid to rest in Famagusta

HE FOUGHT AGAINST ALL THREATS WITH HIS ART

(February 18, 2026 – Nicosia) We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Alper Susuzlu, a founding member and the first General Secretary of the Cyprus Turkish Cartoonists Association, who gained international renown with his unique cartoon style. 

Alper Susuzlu was a versatile artist who, in addition to cartoon, produced a wealth of work in painting and theater for many years. Through both his political views and his artistic endeavors, he made significant contributions, despite all threats, to the Cypriot Turkish Community and the Cypriot Turkish Socialist Movement, and more generally, to achieving a lasting solution to the Cyprus Problem and enabling the communities living in Cyprus to live together again. 

Alper Susuzlu has supported organized actions for peace, democracy, human rights, and freedom of thought and expression through his art. For years, he has been at the forefront of political and artistic activities in pursuit of these goals. In particular, he has fought for the removal of barricades and borders in Cyprus through his drawings, ideas, and actions under the umbrella of the Cyprus Turkish Cartoonists Association. He received numerous threats and was targeted because of his political artwork, but he never backed down from the struggle he believed in. 

Even though Alper Susuzlu has physically left us, he will continue to live on through his lasting works. We offer our condolences to his grieving family and loved ones. 

Alper Susuzlu began drawing cartoons in 1982. His cartoons have been published in newspapers and magazines such as Yeni Düzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Akrep, Kıbrıs, Lololo, Vatan, Yeni Çağ, Demokrat, Karadeniz (Turkey), and Karikatür (Turkey). 

He is one of the cartoonists who implemented the Universal Cartoon Period (1980 - 1990) in Turkish Cypriot Cartoon Art. 

He is a founding member of the Cypriot Turkish Cartoonists Association. Between 1986 and 1990, he served as the General Secretary of the Cypriot Turkish Cartoonists Association. 

His cartoons have been exhibited at international cartoon events in Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Yugoslavia, Turkey, England, Japan, Canada, Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Cuba, Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland, Peru, Germany, Macedonia, Egypt, Taiwan, South Korea, Iran, and Israel, and published in cartoon albums. His works are included in the collections of international cartoon museums in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Peru. 

In 1988, he founded the Cyprus Turkish Comedy Theatre and for many years wrote, directed, and staged numerous humorous-comedy plays dealing with local themes. 

In the 1990s, he published cartoons in the "Comic Strip" style. In 1992, he published his personal cartoon album titled "Cartoons from the Island of Aphrodite". 

His works have been featured in group exhibitions organized by the Cypriot Turkish Cartoonists Association. He has held solo cartoon exhibitions in Cyprus, Türkiye, England, Japan, and Macedonia. 

He has won many important awards in national and international cartoon competitions. Some of these awards are: 

First Prize: International Turkish Cartoonists Exhibition (1986 Basel – Switzerland), 

Silver Medal: International Ancona Sports Cartoon Biennial (1987, 1988 Ancona – Italy), 

Second Prize: Burdur Museum Directorate Cartoon Competition (1993 Burdur – Turkey), 

Cumhuriyet Newspaper Yunus Nadi Award – Cartoon Category (1991/1992 (Istanbul – Turkey)), 

First Prize: Çorum Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cartoon Competition (1994 Çorum – Turkey), 

International Umoristi A Marostica Award: International Umoristi A Marostica Cartoon Exhibition (1995 Vicenza – Italy), 

Special Awards: International Skopje Cartoon Competition (1993/1995 Skopje – Macedonia), 

Excellence Award: International Haifa Cartoon Competition (1996 Haifa – Israel), 

Achievement Award: Taiwan Courage World Cartoon Exhibition (1998 Taipei – Taiwan), 

Jury Award: International El Gouna – Red Sea Cartoon Competition (2001 El Gouna – Egypt), 

Silver Award: International Daejeon Cartoon Competition (2005 Daejeon – Korea), 

Golden Pulya – Local Cartoonist of the Year Award: International Aysergi – Pulya Cartoonists Meeting (2010 Yeni Boğaziçi – Cyprus), 

Golden Olive Humor Service Award – For his contributions to Turkish Cypriot cartoon art (2022 Girne – Cyprus). 

HüseyinÇakmak – General Secretary 

Cypriot Turkish Cartoonists Association.

Alper Susuzlu (Akrep newspaper, 1988)

Alper Susuzlu ("No to the Economic Measures Package and the Press Law Bill"

Cartoon Exhibition poster, 29 August 1986)

Alper Susuzlu (First Prize) 1994 (Çorum - Türkiye)

Alper Susuzlu (Theme: Fashion,

Special Prize of the Turkish Cartoonists Association)

Alper Susuzlu (Second Prize: Burdur Museum Directorate Cartoon Competition,

1993 Burdur – Türkiye) 

Alper Susuzlu (Akrep cartoon newspaper no: 3 - May / June 1988)

Alper Susuzlu (Akrep newspaper, 1989)

Alper Susuzlu (Silver Award) 2005 Daejeon - Korea

Alper Susuzlu (First Prize) 1986 Basel - Switzerland

Alper Susuzlu (Gabrovo)

Alper Susuzlu -  Mert Ata Yaltırık 1. National Cartoon Competition

(1996 İstanbul - Türkiye).