05 April 2007

Sergiou Writes on Crossings
CHARALAMBOS Sergiou is an artist and an embryologist living and working in Nicosia and has written some notes on the Crossings exhibition at the Power House for the Arts Page."Being a collector, I love the flea markets and, as I have missed the opening (when one could actually buy something from the flea market installation) of the show, I missed the opportunity to mix two sensations. "Firstly, trying to read a contemporary work of art and at the same time choosing to buy something for my collection by browsing at the floor stalls. I normally feel intense doing both but separately. I would have loved to match my feelings towards the subject by doing both at the same time. "Fortunately I had the opportunity to listen to Didier Courbot’s talk about his flea market experiences two days before and of course as it is so with most contemporary works, any pre-discussion on the concept especially involving the artist him/herself, makes a difference to the way the viewer is confronting and interpreting the realised pieces.Congratulations to the curators Yiannis Toumazis, and Androulla Michael and Fabrice Flabutez for their excellent choice of works and for organising a half day pre-congress before the opening exhibition introducing the work to the public. "It turned out to have been a successful meeting offering translational facilities. As it was a very specialised field, I would not have expected art lovers to be present but I would have liked to have seen more artists being there."The shop with the flags by Panayiotis Michael was an interesting summary of some of his work (see the Polish artist Tadeusz Kantor April 6, 1915-December 8, 1990 whose curiosity shop in 1963 marked the beginning of the use of the idea of the shop as an installation). "Panayiotis’ line of thought is very much of today and although we did see too many "shops" cropping up as installations lately (that I start to get the feeling that it is often the easy way out) Panayiotis’ installation happens to fit very well the general theme of the exhibition. "It was very well positioned next to the flea market.Serap Kanay’s family tree is a fine example of serious research leading to an image. So much research in science is often lost in works and how impressive it is that art can give it life and a soul!“Moving to the second part of the show there are two exceptional works. "The work of Andreas Savva is Wow, visually and conceptually. Do not be content to see it in the catalogue, you have to see it on site."The second work by Daniel Le is a UN prefab shed filled up with soil wearing an olive tree – pure poetry – heavy and light, mysterious and yet approachable and suddenly I was not interested in knowing more about it, as it has given me enough visually. "Reluctantly, I moved to the next section of the show as if I did not want to lose the sensation of the aesthetics that I have just experienced."I have already seen Lia Lapithi’s. installation at Gallery Pantheon a few months back so I just enjoyed it optically; well positioned, separating the big room like a river. Opposite on the left hand side a short and sweet video by Servet Koeyigit on nationalism is a good example of video art and how it should be (quick to register and respecting the time of the viewer at the same time)."Sapountzis Yiorgo’s videos with much humour, which is essential even in such dead-serious themes a the ones raised by the curators of the show has given me hope that art will be forever and constantly updated. It has also shown me that the "video" medium still has a role to play in the art world."The installation by Stephanos Karababas and Katerina Attalidou is transcending time. One may choose not to see behind the cabinet but remember that curiosity does not always kill the cat. Please go in and discover the after-cabinet. "Once inside, you may choose to merely experience the flotation or you can even go deeper and try to read the artist’s mind as the piece has a first, second and third level of understanding. If you don’t have the time, go again to reach the third floor."A very serious work by Eric Valette concerning a cemetery deserves more looking into. We all carry with us very private moments in cemeteries and for some people these are more marked, in time, than in others."There are, of course, more works that deserve mentioning and I certainly need to visit the show again."On my way out I could not resist and I secretly stole a minute in Christodoulous Panayiotou’s piece and danced with my wife." Ch. S.

A poem by Ahmad Aicha
AHMAD Aicha is a Syrian Cypriot whose son, Adonis, lives in Cyprus with his mother Kyproulla. Ahmad read this poem of his on World Poetry Day at Castelliotissa on March 21. ADONIS I played guitarBut you proved to play it betterPerhaps because your fingers are slimmer than mine.I stopped paintingWhen I saw that your abstract art was intuitive and mine was notLike the African who carved wood figures better than PicassoOr the villager in the Caucasus who wove designs that could rivalAnything achieved by Paul Klee.When we were fishing togetherYour attention was caught by a mouse, rather than a fishJust as my attention strayed from physics to girls when I was studying.Remember, when you were three, and you said‘The moon is walking with us’? Did you think you were at the centre of the world?Adonis, physically you bear a resemblance to your motherBut your character is closer to mineTo what destiny will it lead you ?I called you Adonis, thinking you would be eternalAs love is eternal…..And also because it is easier for me to create a god, than to be one.Ahmad Aicha
Ruptures of dialogueDAPHNE Mavrovouniotis Trimikliniotis has an exhibition at Apocalypse Gallery which will be opened on Friday, April 13, at 7.30pm, by House President Demetris Christofias.It will continue until the 25th of the month.Daphne Mavrovouniotis Trimiklinitotis was born in Limassol and emigrated to London in 1959, where she studied at Hornsey College of Art, Middlesex University. She spent 35 years in London and has had 14 solo exhibitions of her work in London, Greece and Cyprus as well as taking part in numerous group exhibitions. She is now the President of the Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts.Daphne is returning to Nicosia after five years. Here awareness of social and political issues influenced her creative process. Her anxieties and worries as well as her expectations and hopes, are reflected in her paintings. New elements are being introduced into Daphne’s work, showing a new concept and philosophy. Elements, such as written dialogue, excerpts from love letters, words and slogans showing the general concern for the state of the world we live in, posing questions and trying to find answers for the way ahead. Here is what she has to say:"Before us, a ruptured world is questioning its very existence. Words, phrases, slogans, people-moments and events, are twisting and turning in our confused minds"All these compose an ever-changing scenery. It’s a dream-like world, turning nightmare at times, and into reality at others. This is the most horrifying and at the same time, most miraculous issue: we live at the MOMENT, where, the visual encroaches upon the real. "And yet, we can no longer locate the boundaries between the real and the false. How can we imagine a true world in the fragments and reflections of a phony and superficial life where all is for sale?"This is the MOMENT I strive to capture: as it emerges through the excerpts of letters – testimonies from the soul, letters of passion swearing eternal, undying love and sacrifice, letters of despair from shattered dreams …. Words flying the air… This is the Moment which forces upon us who we really are by gazing at the past, and think about the future that lies ahead."This scenery I try to recreate, to reconstruct in the hope that we will somehow manage to rethink and re-imagine the world. For moments such as these are ruptures in the continuity of the world; they are ruptures in a dialogue with the past and a potential world of the future."They are a dialogue with life itself."
Double exhibitionDORA Oronti’s and Andros Pavlides’s show at Technis Dromena Gallery is unfortunately now over. Pavlides is new to exhibitions but paints with vigour and has a strong feeling for pigmental use. He loves representational themes and is fond of texture and colour. Dora Oronti is, I would say, the best abstract artist of her generation and shows several of her very new works. Excellent.
New Shows MIKE Marshall is at the Pharos Centre of Contemporary Art from April 12 until May 31.Eleni Meli exhibits at the Melina Mercouri from Tuesday April10-14.
Happy Easter
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