gavriel exhibition — gavriel exhibition — An art exhibition by painter George Gavriel was abruptly removed from the Blue Iris Gallery in Paphos after the gallery’s owner received death threats, the artist revealed on Sunday.
Gavriel stated that he chose to withdraw his works, which frequently explore political and religious themes, due to an escalating “climate of intimidation and terrorism” faced by the gallery owner. This decision was made to ensure the owner’s safety amidst a troubling situation.
The threats reportedly began on Thursday, sparked by a social media post from a candidate of the far-right ELAM party concerning the exhibition. The situation intensified through Saturday, leading to heightened concern for the gallery’s owner.
According to sources, the police are aware of the threats and are familiar with the identities of those behind them. However, the gallery owner opted not to file a formal complaint, indicating the level of fear and intimidation surrounding the case.
Gavriel, who has previously endured scrutiny from the Ministry of Education for his work being deemed “derogatory of religion”, expressed his regret over the need to cancel the exhibition. He emphasised the difficult times artists face, stating, “We live in difficult times where artists exhibit under police guard, and take down their works through extortion and terrorism.”
Adding to the unsettling events, Gavriel reported that on Saturday, three young individuals entered the gallery’s basement and removed some of the artwork, only to return the pieces later. This incident underlined the volatile atmosphere surrounding the exhibition and the challenges artists face in expressing their work freely.