1_Oct. 23– Nov. 6, 2023;
2_May 29– June 3, 2024;
3_Oct. 28 – Nov. 7, 2024
The secondment at UCY/ Cyprus ties in with the long-term research by Paul Rajakovics (transparadiso) on divided cities and the preoccupation with borders – in particular Gorizia (I)/ Nova Gorica (SLO). An essential role was ascribed to the psychogeographical situation of life in the North and South of the divided city of Lefkosia/ Nicosia.
Paul Rajakovics undertook the secondment in 3 phases, for which he shifted his accommodation between the North, the South and then returning to the North.
In the first phase he held conversations with residents especially in the North, with Barçin Gökbörü (sociologist) and his contacts, and with Socrates Stratis and his contacts in the South. He gave the talk „Social Spaces between direct urbanism and architecture“ and held guest critiques at the University of Cyprus. He further explored the island from both sides (especially Famagusta/ the „death city“, former prime tourism destination which has been attracting a dark tourism, since parts of Famagusta were opened in 2020) for understanding the complexity of the current issues in their geopolitical dimension.
In the second phase he participated in the AESOP Symposium „Constructing Peace through Public Space: What Publics? Whose Commons?“ (May 30–31, 2024), where he presented „Learning from Gorizia (I)/ Nova Gorica (SLO)“, and especially „Moving Seats for Understanding“ , a project he had conceived for the border between Gorizia (I)/ Nova Gorica (SLO) in 2024. The goal of this project is to provide a moving platform (rail trolley) on the railway tracks which devide the two cities for inviting people around Europe and beyond to discuss their issues of turmoiled and conflicted border situations–as in Cyprus (Nicosia/ Lefkosia). Maybe this concept could also serve as an initiative to conceive of a transfer of discussions along the border between the North and the South, between Nicosia and Lefkosia.
In the third phase Paul Rajakovics held interviews with residents from both sides of the border, addressing the current issues and hopes/ perspectives for overcoming the border. These interviews, as well as the material and experience gathered, will be part of the ongoing longterm archive of Paul Rajakovics and result in new projects.