"On 20th July 1974, Turkey invaded the North of Cyprus. Since that day, a third of the island remains under Turkish occupation. Walking through the streets of the capital city Nicosia, you will see the United Nations buffer zone between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas. This abandoned border, known as 'no-man's land' has been frozen in time for 50 years - no inhabitants, no movement, no life. Within the piece, this area has been created using harsh black wire. The dividing border is depicted by a distorted copper wire line, which represents the shape of the green line. I have used copper wire throughout the piece as the Greek word for Cyprus "Kypros" is synonymous with copper, which was mined on the island and dates back to thousands of years BC.

Along with 170,000 other Greek Cypriots. my grandparents were uprooted from their homeland and forced to leave their home, their life, and their possessions. The two main figures in this piece represent my grandparents. My grandmother - a strong woman looking into the distance, into the future, and leading her husband to a safe place. My grandfather - a blind man with a passion for playing the violin, who on that day locked the door of their family home with his key in hand, hoping to return. He always held this key close to his heart and prayed that one day they would return home, but never did. I am now the keeper of that key.

There is a figure that appears to be balancing as if on a tight rope, this embodies the refugees who had to balance many challenges and emotions as they attempted to re-build their lives. The other figures reflect the pain, suffering, struggles and devastation experienced by those fleeing their homes. 

Flying over the piece is a dove holding an olive branch; this represents peace and the overlapping olive branches seen in the Cypriot flag. The figure is holding onto this closely - just as I and many other Cypriots hold on to the hope that one day we can be a free and united Cyprus."

- Nina Lazarou