S: For my work the circumstances play a crucial role. All my practices are developed around the issues present here. I’d like to think that the whole island is my art studio. But don’t get me wrong, this is not because I am Cypriot and I am living in a divided country. I’m not interested in my country in a nationalistic sense. It is more that I am trying to use the conflict here as a starting point to speak about something more general in my work, about the human condition, about how we as humans negotiate with the situations around us.

P: The political situation in Cyprus is—and has been for a while—a bit of a cliche and so is talking about the situation. It’s always very easy to talk about things from a nationalistic perspective or a very simplified perspective. So what I think Stelios does in his photographic work is, instead of focusing on that core political narrative, he explores around it: What are the social effects? How can they be interpreted aesthetically instead of explicitly? How does this whole thing work outside this very dominant political narrative?

S: Our generation can look at the history of Cyprus’ division from a distance. It’s been over 40 years now and this distance gives us the opportunity to view it differently than our parents could. A lot of people from the previous generations were displaced, living the life of refugees in their own country and their trauma also shapes how they currently talk about the situation. I feel I can speak about the topic with more immediacy. I’m interested in the now and how the now is showing itself in really nuanced ways within our everyday lives. I’m not trying to educate anyone or use my work to raise awareness. I want to reach people on a rather personal level.

P: It’s not just about shooting the Green Line or the barriers any longer. This has almost turned into a rather touristy thing. People come here and say, “Wow, Europe’s last divided country!” For us it’s not about that. What makes this place special are the things that are here, not the narratives that are constructed around this place.