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While the Varosha area is increasingly open to visitors, this work focuses on the human impact of Famagusta / Varosha history and aims at creating empathetic understandings for both locals and visitors. The poet explores place memory and refers to the interrupted life trajectory in Varosha, a place marked by forced displacement. By tapping into the collective memories of several public spaces, such as the Glossa Beach, the Municipal Garden, the Municipal Agora, the Greek Gymnasium and others, Akdeniz aims to identify the familiar and foster a deeper understanding of the refugee experience and the complex realities of the Cyprus conflict. These geo-triggered poems are accessed through the application ‘Sound Walking’ on location and on-line with printed QR codes at specific locations in Famagusta.

The title, We Are Not Ghosts, echoes a common phrase used by Varosha refugees. It serves as a counter-response to labelling the city a “ghost town”. Instead, it reclaims the collective memory of its former inhabitants, and the possible future of the city.

With these poems, Akdeniz, skilfully navigates the memory of this historical place and merges it with the present experience of the city as a post-war site. This work is produced from Akdeniz’s belief in poetry, aiming to enhance the human experience by involving all the senses and making both tangible and intangible aspects of human existence visible.

The sound walk is a collaborative work of the poet Nafia Akdeniz, curator Alessandro Vincentelli, cultural director Argyro Toumazou, sound designer Inal Bilsel, visual designer Andriana Lagoudes, and application developer Jason Murray Winn. The project is produced by D6:EU, a visual arts organisation based in Cyprus, developing new opportunities for artists and cultural collaborations in Cyprus, Europe and the Middle East.

Supporters: the Famagusta City Museum, Famagusta Avenue Garage, Famagusta local community, Paralimni – Deryneia Municipality, and Jason Murray Winn – Narrative Infrastructure. The project is a collaboration between the poet Nafia Akdeniz and D6:EU and funded as part of the Art for Social Action small grants programme.