The Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre and the Mayor of Nicosia all moved on Monday to distance themselves from the exhibition “A Slight Indisposition” at NiMAC, following a public controversy over the inclusion of a work by Turkish Cypriot artist Emin Çizenel, who has been linked to the design of the flag of the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”
The New Cyprus Association, however, pushed back against the reactions, defending Çizenel’s participation and his record of bicommunal cooperation.
The Deputy Ministry of Culture said it had no involvement in organising, funding or curating the show. It noted that the work in question, titled “A Lost Moment,” was purchased by the Republic of Cyprus in 2007 and has been part of the State Art Collection ever since. “The inclusion of a work in the State Collection does not constitute political endorsement or identification with positions, acts or symbols associated with its creator,” the ministry said. It added that it fully understood the legitimate sensitivities within Cypriot society when a person appears to have been connected to symbols of the occupation, and that it recognised the artistic freedom of exhibition curators while not disregarding historical memory, the illegal Turkish occupation and the political weight of such symbols.
NiMAC also issued a statement, clarifying that “A Lost Moment” has been shown in other exhibitions previously without issue, and that the work was loaned to the centre exclusively for the purposes of this exhibition. The centre stressed that “A Slight Indisposition” is not a solo show but includes works by many Cypriot and foreign creators. NiMAC said it enjoys full artistic freedom, as do other cultural centres of the Municipality of Nicosia, and that events and individual works are not reviewed by the Municipal Council. The centre announced it will assess the matter at an extraordinary session, based on its institutional structure and mission.
The Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, in a Facebook post, clarified that the exhibition is a NiMAC event and not one organised by the Municipality, which had no involvement in its preparation or curation. The Mayor said he was unaware of the exhibition and did not attend its opening, adding that the Municipal Council does not as a rule approve works exhibited in arts centres or museums. He said the matter should be examined promptly by NiMAC’s management and that the legitimate concerns raised in public discussion should be taken into account.
The New Cyprus Association struck a different note, expressing disagreement with the reactions against Çizenel’s presence in the exhibition. The association pointed out that his work has been in the State Collection for twenty years and has been shown repeatedly in the past without controversy. It also highlighted his role as a member of the Bicommunal Technical Committee for Culture, through which he contributed to the return of approximately 200 works of art that had been found in occupied Famagusta, kept by Turkish Cypriots, and subsequently returned to the Republic of Cyprus and their owners. The association said joint Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot actions and collaborations, particularly in the realm of art, contribute to efforts to break down the division and reunify Cyprus.
The State Art Collection was originally established by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education. Since July 2022, when the Deputy Ministry of Culture was founded, its enrichment has continued through the Department of Contemporary Culture, with the stated aim of documenting the course of modern and contemporary Cypriot art from the late 19th century to the present day. The exhibition, which opened at NiMAC in collaboration with the Pierides Foundation, runs until July 26.
