8 February 2007

A LostMomentEmin Cizenel’s exhibition at Argo Gallery is a most beautiful, tranquil exhibition. Cizenel has used the clear, uncluttered space of Argo for four pieces consisting of preliminary work on the project, a series on inter-related canvases, some smaller acrylics on canvas and a video installation, technically produced by Shane Fage, which has music played by Suleyman Yardim on a reed pipe. Cizenel was born in Mallia, Cyprus, and graduated from the Fine Arts Academy, Istanbul.He has continued artistic research in Vienna, received a Fulbright scholarship and carried out research and study in New York.Here is what he has written on his painting and video installation."A Lost moment""The title metaphorically refers to a synthetic duration in time.“The moment to moment, or time that is outside of memory but is a result of it, will essentially always be present. Indeed it is so related to "coded" images we seem to miss in the course of our routine. "The meaning all and any object or any fragrance evokes, is an instinctive escape in time, in the time we spent together, with it, moments we let ourselves go. Our attempt to freeze time is about that particular last moment."This exhibition is open to notions that can be added to a familiar reality, like a summer evening that fades into the night."Perhaps we cannot return to a lost time, but we can trace it. In the simple, unaffected, sincere and sentimental expression of the visual art, or in an egocentric attempt at sharing with others – which we can call exhibition.“Thus, through the history of a flower we can refer to the remembrance of social memory that is created in that ‘lost time’."Do go to Argo. Go quietly. The video tape will be put on for you. Jasmine rules.The present rush of life will vanish. Until February 17.

RestlessReflectionsNILGUN Guney and Osman Keten are at Opus 39 until the 17th of the month.The Arts Page goes to bed Sunday night so the article on his exhibition will be next week as will the appreciation of Martin Meason’s Art Aware lecture.Nilgun Guney writes: "The reflections of inner and environmental dilemma. Especially living on an island which has an unsettled and uncertain situation and living in a world which needs struggle for human rights and all other rights. We tried to put out our restless thoughts and contradictions and transform these contradictions into an art form. Although one of us is a woman and the other is a man and maybe has a different point of view, we have similar (like all human beings) anxieties for life. One can see the differences of technique in our art but also can see the similarity in the concept we try to bring out"Osman Keten says: "The starting point of my paintings is always human beings. As a subject I use the reflections of political, economic and sociological statue on the human psychology, of the society I live in. I tried to reflect the psychological breakups of people, loneliness, rage, faintness resistance and indifference under pressure and also reflect the identity crisis."Not only have I tried to understand the people, I also tried to look into my soul and question myself. I feel Cyprus is composed of two parts and these two parts are composed of other pieces. The negative and positive effects of politics are changing the places of these parts, removing some of them, putting new ones but these pieces never settle in and combine. These psychologically and physically unsettled pieces are still constituting the agenda. I believe that the physical union will contribute to the psychological union".
Marlen’s workPANTHEON Gallery is to host Marlen Karletidou’s art exhibition on Saturday, February 24, at 7pm.The new work by the artist, under the title Transition, is one of a mature painter whose thoughts and problems concerning opportune matters create the image direct, with fantasy and unexpected surrealistic elements.
Demetris Constantinouat Gloria’s THIS exhibition by the great sculptor Demetris Constantinou opens on Monday and will continue until the March 2.