Nicosia, Cyprus. The Of Monumental artistic research initiative will present its study, archive and publication, Conversation with a sculptor / Conversation with a sculpture, on Saturday at Phytorio – Visual Artists & Art Theorists Association.
Project background and collaborators
Of Monumental was conceived by visual artist PASHIAS and is grounded in his long-term artistic inquiry. The initiative is implemented by intercommunal cultural non-profit organisation Visual Voices in collaboration with architect and academic Dimitris Venizelos, researcher Selin Genç, audiovisual artist Rahme Veziroğlu and curator Melina Philippou.
Publication focus and sculptures examined
The publication examines 11 public art sculptures across the divide: Birth by Maria Kyprianou (2000, Limassol); The Big Potato (2021, Xylophagou); Clepsydra by Theodoulos Gregoriou (2009, Larnaca); Democracy Sculpture by Zehra Şonya (2019, Nicosia); Horses by the Near East University Sculpture Workshop (2021, Nicosia); Jaffa Orange by Sevcan Çerkez (2015, Lefke); Lying Down by Naz Atun (2021, Nicosia); Miners’ Strike Monument (2018, Lefke); Liberty Monument by Ioannis Notaras (1973, Nicosia); The Poet by Costas Varotsos (1983, Nicosia); and Rainbow by Nikos Kouroussis (1976, Nicosia), which was taken down later on.
Drawing on archival material and newly conducted interviews, the publication approaches public art monuments as relational objects shaped through social life, institutional frameworks and everyday encounters.
Event programme and languages
The event is part of Phytorio’s public programme Minor Gestures Take Root in the Cracks. It includes an introduction to the Of Monumental initiative by curator Philippou, reflections on the artistic responses by PASHIAS and Veziroğlu, and a presentation of the publication’s research framework by Venizelos and Genç, followed by a round-table discussion with project contributors open to the public.
The initiative and artistic responses will be presented in English and in the contributors’ first language. The publication will be presented in Greek and Turkish, and the discussion will be conducted in English.
Event details
Conversation with a sculptor / Conversation with a sculpture will be presented on January 31 at Phytorio, 2, Nechrou Street, Nicosia Municipal Gardens, at 2pm. More information is available at www.visual-voices.org/of-monumental and [email protected].
Will you attend the Conversation with a sculptor / Conversation with a sculpture presentation at Phytorio in Nicosia?
