an island: divided.
NORTHERN SHORE
After a short walk on northern east coast it was inevitable to avoid highlighting a common practice of littering among locals, however clearly it is also affected by the influx of debris from neighbouring countries on Mediterranean Sea. And this time, the objects I found were unusual.
Even at first sight devastating thoughts on terrorised environment, it quickly replaced itself of recent refugee crises in the region and those unfortunate people who has been left to be drown in Mediterranean.
I do not have any source to proof where all debris could end up here, but some items had Greek, Arabic, Hebrew or Turkish texts.
GHOST TOWN
Varosha was the most developed tourist destination in Cyprus. After the 1950s, the island gained their independence against British colonisation. However, this was soon followed by a rise in Greek nationalism in 1960s and then it has led to a Turkish invasion in 1974. Since then, only the Turkish army has had access to Varosha. For almost half a century, the area remained a forbidden zone, guarded by the Turkish army and used as a valuable 'key' in Cypriot peace negotiations. Since 2020, the town has been open to the public as a "tourist attraction" allowing visitors to explore on foot or by bicycle along designated renovated roads.
The emotional impact of the place is reflected in the growth of plants in the living rooms or bedrooms of the people displaced. Bullet holes and broken glass decorate the walls of houses and shops looted during the invasion. It is heartbreaking to imagine the anguish of those who lived through the city's most vibrant period. Walking around this abandonment intensified my feelings of sadness, shame and anger even after I left the 'ghost town'.
"FOREIGNERS'" CEMETERY
As I followed an indistinct path during a walk in the nature took me to the appearance of a yellow stoned wall between the green surface and the blue sky, which continued horizontally until my eyes caught a partially demolished gate to access behind the wall. The walk was continued in the hope of catching even more picturesque landscapes, which would provide a true colour palette of Cyprus's winter, green and blue.
Proceeding to traverse the half-arched gate, the appearance of destroyed gravestones bearing carved names in the Greek alphabet and also dates (all preceding July 1974) was noticeable. What could have motivated such a violence? Greed, hatred, revenge, apathy, or a combination of all these factors were present to me, simultaneously. Following this experience, I conducted research on Christian cemeteries locally known as "Greek Cemeteries" in order to ascertain that the same scenery was prevalent in other villages in the northern part of the green line. Furthermore, I discovered that some British people who are nowadays living in the northern part of the island requested that the authorities restore the Christian cemeteries. However, they were met with a rejection, which was conveyed in the following statement: The response indicated that the restoration of the "Foreigner's cemeteries" was not the responsibility of the authorities, but rather of the relatives of the deceased, who were "not interested" in the matter.. After reading that I could not stop repeating "Could it be apathy, hatred, revenge, greed, or a combination of all these factors?"..
However, what I portray in this series is nothing but the shame of humanity.
AYGURUŞ
The village of Agios Amvrosios was previously inhabited by Greek-speaking Cypriot communities until the 1974 invasion compelled its population to relocate. The subsequent displacement of individuals based on their ethnic identity can be attributed to the colonial British rule that designated them either Turkish/Muslim or Greek/Christian. Consequently, the Turkish-speaking Cypriots, who currently reside in Agios Amvrosios (known as "Ayguruş" among them), relocated from their original village, Aynikola (Agios Nikolaus), situated in the southwest of the island in close proximity to Paphos. Following the breakdown of peace negotiations, the Turkish-speaking community established the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983, receiving full support and recognition from Turkey. Subsequently, numerous villages and cities underwent a process of rebranding with the objective of facilitating Turkish assimilation. As a result, Agios Amvrosios is now known as Esentepe (Breezy Hill). Despite the lack of historical documentation, this village, where I was born and most of my family still resides, is situated between in northeast of the island.
The residence in which I was raised was initially provided to my parents as a temporary accommodation until a peace agreement would be signed which has never happened. And despite the continued division of the island, it has become a home in a stranger's house.