Deputy Nicosia mayor Chrysanthos Fakas on Sunday added his voice to those protesting an exhibition in Nicosia which includes works by the artist who designed the ‘TRNC’ flag.

On Friday the Ecologists Movement had declared outrage at the A Slight Indisposition exhibition ongoing at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre (NiMAC) in Nicosia, including participation of Emin Çizenel, who designed the flag.

The Ecologists state that Çizenel is known not only for his artistic career, but also as the creator of the flag of the pseudo-state, which they characterised as a symbol of the Turkish occupation and the partition of Cyprus.

“If this information is correct, the exhibition should be immediately cancelled,” Fakas said.

He was backed by fellow Disy Nicosia councillors who expressed “dissatisfaction and clear disagreement with the hosting of an artist’s work”.

Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said the event has not been organised by the municipality but called on NiMAC to examines the issue in the light of public outcry.

NiMAC itself said that the artwork by Çizenel called A Lost Moment I actually art of the state collection and was acquired by the Republic in 2007 and was loaned to NiMAC for this exhibition.

The artist and his work, NiMAC said, has been exhibited numerous times in the past without the organisers having any problem.

It said, as with all cultural institutions, it is fully independent and not subject to the approval of Nicosia municipality.

The exhibition hosts a group of artists including other Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.