Art

Great water colours

Kyriakos Lyros’ exhibition at Opus 39 will be opened by Akis Cleanthous the Minister of Education and Culture on Monday, April 16 and continue until the 28th of the month.

The artist considers this statement by the English academic Ken Howard matches his own philosophy and goals.

"I suppose my philosophy of paintings is very simple, particularly in this day and age. It is about three things really, it’s about revelation, it’s about communication and it’s about celebration. And if you take the first one, Revelation, what I mean by that is quite simply revealing to oneself through doing the painting, and thereby revealing to other people, a way of seeing the world. You open other people’s eyes to your way of seeing that is all-important.

Communication – very simple. I have always believed that art must communicate with a public. That’s not why you do it; you do it for yourself because you can’t help it. But, in a way, if your ideas are not communicated to other people then what is the point? You are just speaking to yourself; you are just contemplating your own navel.

The third one, Celebration, is one that I know a lot of people will argue with, but for me I like painting, music , literature, etc, to raise me above the norm, to raise my spirits and give me a sense of celebrating. I suppose for that reason my basic interest in paintings is light. I think light is celebration of nature. That to me is what I call celebration.

What I want my art to do, basically, is to make people feel elevated. To make them feel a sense of celebration about life, about the world, about them. And in this case when I work in Venice – a celebration of Venice, because of all the cities in the world, Venice is the one that celebrates life, it celebrates light, it celebrates art and it is a celebratory place."

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Cocktails from the American International School

The Annual Art exhibition by the American International School in Cyprus (AISC) is always full of surprises, talent and great work.

Many of the students at AISC take the challenging International Baccalaureate Diploma and choose art as one of their subjects. The work on show is always representative of a great academic programme, good teaching and the freedom the young artists are given to produce original art,

This year, AISC will be presenting the accumulated studio work of 12 candidates graduating from the International Baccalaureate programme. The exhibition is entitled "Cocktails" and will run from April 17 to the 20 at the Melina Mercouri Hall near Famagusta Gate in Old Nicosia; viewing hours will be between 10:00 – 13:00 and 17:00 -20:00 daily. I will be opening the exhibition at 8 pm on the 17th and can’t wait to see what is on offer this year.

This year’s group of young artists is made up of three Cypriots, 3 British. 1 Swedish, 1 Serbian, 1 South African, 1 Dane and 1 German.

This range of nationalities gives an indication of the diversity of cultural experiences to be expected in this exhibition. As the name of the show suggests there will be a variety of techniques ranging from sculptures to creative installations and paintings.

Works will be displayed by – Sam Allan, Harriet Beckettt-Butt, Maria Lukic, Kieran Mclean, Stacy Melvin, Nicole Pekhazis, Sophie Pontikis, Maria Toumazou, Ian Hanson, Rea Lazarides, Theresa Pross, and Philip Weaver.

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Samuel Beckett (1906-1989)

This exhibition will take place at The Leventis Municipal Museum Temporary Exhibition Hall which is at 17 Hippocratis str, Laiki Yitonia. Nicosia. Private reception 17th April then until the 6th May.

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Athina’s Berlin – in context

This exhibition opens tonight and will continue until the 28th April. It is presented by Argo Gallery but showing at Omikron g Gallery at Vasileos Pavlou 2, Nicosia (Tel 22754009 .)

Athina Antoniadou will show paintings while Marina Shacola – photographs.

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Annita Georgiou at Technis Dromena

Dr Vasos Lyssarides honorary chairman of the Social Democrats Movement (EDEK) and no mean painter himself will open the exhibition of Annita Georgiou on Wednesday 18th April at Technis Dromena Gallery. It will continue until April 28

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Ruptures of dialogue

Daphne Mavrovouniotis Trimikliniotis at Apocalypse

Daphne Mavrovouniotis Trimikliniotis has an exhibition at Apocalypse Gallery which will be opened on tonight at 7.30 p.m by the President of the House of Representataives Demetris Christofias and 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.

She has had 14 solo exhibitions of her work in London, Greece and Cyprus, and took 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 showing her work. Being aware 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.

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Don’t miss …

-- Mike Marshall at Pharos centre of Contemporary Art exhibits from 12 April until the 31st .

-- Eleni Meli exhibits at the Melina Mercouri until the 14th of the month. Last Chance

-- Nedi Sakellaropoulou has icons until April 21 at Gallery k

-- Susan Vargas Stefani at Kypriaki Gonia, Larnaca until 20 April

-- Marc-Alain Stamm has photographs at Leo Gallery 18 Amphitritis Street until 19th May. Tel 99511546 for personal appointment.

-- Raymond Wilson and Michael Turner at Dinos Art Cafe until Sunday April 15.

__ I believe Vera Hadjidis’s exhibition opens at Gloria’s on Tuesday the 17th of the month.

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Henri Cartier-Bresson

This superb exhibition of photographs at the Hellenic Bank Cultural Centre at the corner of Limassol and Athalassa Avenues, Nicosia has hopefully been extended until later in the month – tel 22441571 for the latest information on this possible extension.

It has been presented by Hathor Productions as part of the current Francophonie Festival. Give yourself a few hours to take in this brilliant show.

There are also book on Bresson which you can aquire.

Note what Jean Clair writes in his book "Europeans":

"I find it easy to imagine him as a student at Cambridge, daintily pouring out tea for Lady Fraser, with the practiced composure of the ethnologist he had already become, preparing himself at the beginning of the thirties for his campaign on the territory of the working class."

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Remember

Theatre Ena is also at Limassol (as well as Nicosia) and that is where "The Remains of the Day" Limassol is at on April 13 and 14. Limassol take note.

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photo captions

Colour

1. in pics "Freefall"

Freefall by Sophie Pontikis at the American International School exhibition at the Melina.

2: Daphne Mavrovouniotis- Trimikliniotis at Apocalypse from tonight

7: Poetic Response

Kyriakos Lyras from Monday at Opus 39 from Monday

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Black and white…

3: Athina’s Berlin

A photograph by Marina Shacola at Omikron g

4: Curves

Annita Georgiou at Tehnic Dromena

5: Samuel Beckett

The Levntis Municipal Museum

6: Henri Cartier-Bresson

at Hellenic Bank, Nicosia

ARTS

LIA