An exhibition titled A Slight Indisposition, which opened at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre (NiMAC) in collaboration with the Pierides Foundation, has sparked controversy, with journalist Giorgos Tattis of the newspaper Western Nicosia and Vergina TV alleging that he was assaulted while attempting to seek clarifications from the exhibition’s curator.
The exhibition reportedly includes the participation of Turkish Cypriot artist Emin Cizenel, who has been linked to the creation of the flag of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to involvement in institutions of the breakaway administration.
The journalist also stated that the exhibition’s curator is Esra Plumer Bardak, who serves on the bicommunal Technical Committee on Culture and, according to his claims, also holds a role in a cultural body of the breakaway regime.
Outside the exhibition venue, a protest was staged by a Turkish Cypriot artist and his Iranian partner, who held a banner reading: “Stop Normalizing the Occupation, Art Washing.”
According to Mr Tattis, when explanations were sought from the curator regarding the participation of the specific artist, she replied that he was “an excellent artist”.
He then attempted to ask further questions about the selection of participants and her professional background. According to a video he later posted, a Turkish Cypriot man accompanying the curator approached him, threw his mobile phone to the ground and prevented him from continuing to film, despite the fact that, according to the journalist, he was in a public space.
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