Marinos Thoma

MA Fine Art

Statement

THE 1974’s CYPRUS WAR – REFUGES and UNFORGOTTEN MEMORIES.

Since 1974 war and the invasion of Turkish in Cyprus, the island has been divided into two different nations, Turkish North and Greek South Cyprus and conquered by many foreign rulers. In human terms, the worst consequence of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in the summer of 1974 is the tragic humanitarian problem of the missing persons and their families. Furthermore, over 2000 prisoners of war were illegally taken to Turkey and detained in Turkish prisons. Some of them were not released and are still missing. Hundreds of other Greek Cypriots, both soldiers and civilians (including old people, women and children) disappeared in the areas under Turkish occupation and are still missing.

Also more than 25,000 thousand of Cypriots were forced to leave their properties after the second invasion of Turkish in Cyprus, leaving back their belongings and being separated from their families. Today, Mr Melios Chrysostomou and Mrs Marina Chrysostomou shared their own story with us, helping to present evidence into this exhibition. Also in this gallery exhibition, the artist presents a mixed media of photographs, films and found objects of the remainings.