With eyes fixed on Famagusta, the opening of the Temporary Municipal Art Gallery of Famagusta took place at the THALASSA Municipal Museum in an emotional atmosphere
In an atmosphere of strong emotional charge and emotion, the inauguration of the Temporary Municipal Gallery of Famagusta was held last Wednesday night (January 18, 2023) at the THALASSA Municipal Museum by the President of the House of Representatives Mrs. Annita Dimitriou in the presence of officials, artists and representatives of local bodies of the two cities.
In her greeting, which began and ended with verses by our great poet Kyriakos Charalambidis, the Speaker of the Parliament mentioned that the rescued works that were lucky enough to be returned to their rightful owners and will be temporarily exhibited at the Municipal Museum of Ayia Napa, will remind to the local population, but also to foreign visitors that the national problem of Cyprus remains unsolved and that the desire to return to the land that every Cypriot misses the most, in sea-loving Famagusta, remains unquenchable.
She assured that as the President of the Parliament and as a member of Parliament she will honestly stand by every effort that contributes to the information and enlightenment of our country's struggle towards a just resolution of the Cyprus issue. He also stated that he considers the transfer of knowledge regarding modern Cypriot culture to be of the utmost importance, especially for the younger generations, stressing with emphasis that the new and future generations must know and that "we must teach them why the viability of small nations it is fundamentally based on their intellectual wealth, which is not measured by time or money."
In his own greeting, the Mayor Mr. Christos Zannettou mentioned that it is a huge honor for the Municipality of Ayia Napa to host the artistic works of the Cypriot Empress and assured that not only will the Municipality be seen as worthy of the expectations of every refugee and every Famagusta resident but and that this temporary bequest, this sacred bequest as he characteristically said will be preserved by the municipal authority as the apple of an eye here at the Thalassa Museum until his long-awaited return to his birthplace.
These creations are genuine remains of our metropolitan Municipality, a trust of inestimable material and above all emotional value, for this reason our debt is heavy and the return is imperative. "Through art, the most redeeming refuge of the soul, we can feed the memory and keep the beacon of return alive for us, for our children, our grandchildren." "From this place," he added, "memory will turn to the past and the displaced works will communicate to the thousands of visitors, local and foreign, what the silent city for almost half a century could not thunder."
The Mayor of Famagusta in his own speech described the opening of the Temporary Gallery as a very important cultural event that sends a renewed message of dynamism and promise that we never forget and constantly fight to keep the memory of Famagusta alive, hoping and claiming the liberation of our country.
In his own greeting which was read by his representative, the Deputy Minister of Culture dr. Yiannis Toumazis expressed his deep emotion for the event since, as he said, he was actively involved in the return process and then referred extensively to the history of the process. He thanked everyone who contributed to the return of the paintings as well as to the operation of the temporary Municipal Gallery of Famagusta at the THALASSA Museum and wished that like this moving exhibition, but also other similar events would become part of everyday life, as communicants of hope and expressions of our determination to return and reunification of our homeland.
Greetings were also addressed by the Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus, Mr. Ioannis Papameletiou and the Mayor of Piraeus, Mr. Yiannis Moralis, his greeting was read by the curator of the Piraeus Art Gallery, Mrs. Evangelia Bafounis, who called January 18, 2023 a milestone day for Cyprus since after since 49 years after the Turkish invasion of 1974, the Municipal Art Gallery of Famagusta finds a home again, albeit temporarily, and they congratulated the two Municipalities for their cooperation.
Afterwards, the curator of the exhibition, Mr. Xenios Symeonidis, gave an extensive presentation of the Gallery, and then honorary commemorative plaques were awarded by the Mayors of Ayia Napa and Famagusta. Also, two films about Famagusta and the Art Gallery were shown and the event was interspersed with an artistic program presented by Marianna Hatzichristou (singer), Mara Filippou (Piano) and the Famagusta Municipality Choir under the direction of Maestro/Composer Nikos Vichas.
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