The artwork depicts a Zimbabwean passport divided into three sections, each representing the colors of different territories: dark red for Northern Cyprus, dark green for Zimbabwe, and pink-red for the Republic of Cyprus. This division symbolizes the geopolitical fragmentation of Cyprus and serves as a metaphor for the complex identity of a migrant living on the divided island. The dark green section represents the migrant's roots in Zimbabwe, while the encroaching colors of the Cypriot territories reflect the overwhelming impact of the divided island on the migrant's sense of self. The animated passport captures the internal struggle of balancing the artist’s heritage with the realities of life in Cyprus, highlighting the challenges of belonging to multiple, often conflicting, cultures and worlds. The artwork encourages us to reflect on the challenges of identity and displacement. As humans, there comes a point in our lives when we need to embrace and adjust to new environments in order to grow and succeed.

About the Artist

Cissh (1998) is a multidisciplinary artist from Zimbabwe. Growing up in Harare, frequent relocations and a close bond with his brother sparked his passion for art. Inspired by his brother’s early art success, Cissh was motivated to follow a similar path, expressing himself and discovering his unique voice. His art combines traditional Shona carvings with social issues like migration. Cissh’s creative process involves translating life experiences and emotions into art using diverse materials and techniques. Now based in Cyprus, his recent work—shaped by his migration experience and the Diaspora EU Vote exhibition—explores themes of family, psychology, love, and poetry, reflecting his Zimbabwean heritage. Despite challenges in integrating into the local art scene, Cissh aims to celebrate multicultural experiences and create opportunities for fellow Zimbabwean artists.

The painting is animated by Eisa Baddour (1991), a multidisciplinary Syrian artist who combines visual design, architecture, and performance art installations to drive social change. He uses digital tools to explore migration, inequality, and environmental sustainability topics, encouraging conversations on social issues and fostering reflection, empathy and action.