Turkish artist Serhat Kiraz (b.1954) brings different sacred symbols from eastern cultures into the contemporary visual scene of the West and combines them in a masterful way, overcoming obvious difficulties of how to interpret these symbols, in order to create works of art which go beyond a mere symbolic reading. “The Cult” (1990), presented in the 2nd Art Symposium, is indicative of the artist’s expression. It is a complex composition of heterogeneous symbols, Sumerian, Assyrian, Sasanian and Mesopotamian, from religions and cultures forgotten or having lost their identity. The pyramid form places emphasis on the mystical character of the piece, as it creates multiple associations with the sacred element. Thus, Kiraz creates a piece which functions as a temple, protruding from the earth to reach the sky and shine in the sunlight.