Teri Hoover

For me, the creative process is a way to build connection, with myself and others.

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"Deux, Deuce, Duce?" was taken in the city of Larnaca, Cyprus. It is a part of my Portals of Transition series. It is also is a part of a larger collection of images of doors, many of which were taken on the island of Cyprus.

As a divided island, Cyprus compels one to regard repercussions brought on by the cycle of conflict. 

From Wikipedia:

"In 1974 Greek Cypriots performed a military coup with the support of military junta in Greece. Turkey used the coup as a pretext to invade the northern portion of the Cyprus. Turkish forces remained after a cease-fire, resulting in the partition of the island; an objective of Turkey since 1955.[8] The inter-communal violence and subsequent Turkish invasion led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Cypriots."

I have traveled to Cyprus with my husband 7 or 8 times since 1985. The island of Cyprus continues to live under the unresolved conflict of 1974.

Many of my friends on the island of Cyprus are displaced Greek Cypriots who fled south, in 1974. In a matter of hours they left behind their homes and land. Little did they know they would not be returning. (On the flip side-the Turkish Cypriots in the South fled their homes and went north.) I have been photographing the doors of the abandoned homes in southern Cyprus since the 1980's. In 2003 the borders were open (with passport control) for travel between south and north. I made my first trip to the north in 2011 and again in 2013. It was the first time to see the abandon doors of my friends. This sad state of affairs speaks volumes to me. The doors speak of lives left behind- and so much more.

"Deux, Deuce, Duce?"

Age and grime besets the blue door of Turkish Cypriot family who fled north in 1974. The number two stands out quite clearly. The title is simply a play on the word two.

Deux- Two in French.

Deuce- playing card or dice with the number two on it. Tennis: where each side reaches the score of 40.

Duce- doo-chey; Italian -noun-1.a leader or dictator.