04/08/2025
🌿What does it mean to be Cypriot?
〰️ In a recent art therapy workshop at the Majestic State Gallery of Contemporary Art, participants came together to explore cultural identity through creative expression—reflecting on memory, land, and belonging.
〰️ The space held a bi-communal intention for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots: to open dialogue around Cyprus’s ongoing division and the psychological impacts of conflict—trauma, collective memory, and resilience.
〰️ Cultural identity lives in memory—in the colors of tradition, the rhythm of rituals, and the silent stories passed down through generations. It’s deeply connected to the land, to personal and shared histories, and to the emotional landscape shaped by the island’s continued separation and its lasting impact on both communities.
〰️ Cultural identity is not fixed. It shifts, adapts, and evolves—serving as an anchor that helps us understand ourselves and relate to others. Through storytelling, art, and dialogue, we found moments of healing—and hope.
🌱 In a place marked by historical division, we asked: how does collective memory shape who we are? What does trauma leave behind—and how can resilience grow from it?
🫒 This workshop was a quiet act of hope—imagining future spaces where more voices can be heard, and more stories can be shared.
〰️ Art became a mirror. A form of healing. A step toward understanding not just ourselves, but each other through creative expression and the sharing of stories.
