‘Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life’

Three Limassol artists come together to reflect on a dusting of how the world has treated us lately. MELISSA HEKKERS hears more about upcoming exhibition Dust

Three local artists come together in a multi-media group exhibition starting Wednesday. Each inspired by social, environmental, political and religious issues, each artist uses his own language to reflect on issues that inspire much of their recent work.

Quite diverse in their approach and aesthetics – Marios Stavrou (Opsis) mostly uses painting and illustration in his work, Marios Siarlis is an experimental artist with a focus on sculpture and image and Alex Welch is a sculptor and blacksmith – their work is close in spirit. For this occasion, the trio of established Limassol artists will present a series of sculptures, installations, paintings and prints that fall under the general title Dust.

“Dust kind of sums up something not too specific and was a good representation of how we feel dust may have settled during this last year where things have been rather slow in the art and exhibition scene,” reveals Stavrou.

“Dust is composed of fine particles of solid matter; it’s the origin of all life in the universe. Stars are born in clouds of cosmic dust and dust built the planet we walk upon and the bodies we inhabit. Dust is the beginning and end point of all matter, recycled and endlessly moving around along the passage of time,” say the trio. “On earth, it rises from cities, forests, deserts, and the oceans. It fertilises, pollutes and colours our planet. Our bodies are surrounded by a personal cloud of dust, it flavours our food and scents the air we breathe, it can be a blessing or a curse. If dust is the messenger, then air is its medium… In the words of Pablo Picasso ‘Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life…’ This collective exhibition is a dusting of what we have been up to lately,” they add.

As such, everyday life is tinted with the reality of a pandemic and its effect on our routines, our work, our lives. Yet the notion of ‘dust’ that the exhibition revolves around isn’t an immediate response to the pandemic. “We can’t really say that the pandemic has contributed to this show’s concept, as it’s a project that has been in the works for a while,” admits Stavrou. “It (the pandemic) has definitely made it trickier but we will also appreciate the exhibition a lot more; we can’t wait to be able to exchange with people, meet new faces and see friends,” he adds. “We have chosen not to emphasise the pandemic, to show that there IS life beyond the pandemic,” says Stavrou.

Stavrou, Siarlis and Welch have worked together in the past; it’s no coincidence they have come together for this exhibition. “We felt we had more to offer as a group than individually,” says Stavrou. “The fact there are three of us feeds our work, there is an exchange in thoughts and ideas, problem solving together helps each other in our creative process… We of course have our solo projects but we find it important to work and share the experience as a collective as we feel that this is lacking from the arts scene in general, unless it is in theatre, dance, music or an arts market.”

This is also perhaps why the exhibition will take place at the Copperlemon creative Studio in Limassol, an interesting interactive space which provides an alternative setting to a gallery. “The exhibition’s goal is to bring the viewers closer to the artists’ working environments, allowing the audience to engage with the space and the exhibits in a more relaxed way,” explains Stavrou. “The choice of space was also about having the freedom and time to play with the space… We like the idea of being able to bring spectators to the environment of one of our studios, to be closer to an artist’s workspace rather than it being a simple gallery that lacks that personal touch,” he adds.

And so, what can we expect?

“In this exhibition, I’m dealing with social concerns and cultural observations,” reveals Siarlis. “My aim has always been to transfer these observations using humour. It’s important to me that the viewer will receive any social or cultural observations I may make through a humorous piece so that ‘serious’ subjects come across in a lighter manner,” he adds. To date, his work has been characterised by re-approaching folk art, subcultures, and mass overconsumption, giving them a new impetus. With sharp wit and playful intelligence, Siarlis creates hybrid sculptures that examine contemporary issues.

For Welch, “the complexity and beauty of the natural world is a constant source of inspiration for my work, particularly the insect world; this alien world, apart from fascinating, plays an important part in a healthy ecosystem. I suppose my work sheds a little light on these important creatures, a play with naturism, material and mythology.” Welch’s work often reflects humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His creations aim to illuminate our disconnection from the natural world, the commodification of nature and the impact our species is having on this planet.

Stavrou on another hand deals with environment and society’s impact. “Generally, the images I work on are kind of a critique on our way of life and more broadly on our consumption habits,” says Stavrou. “In this exhibition, it’s symbolised by a car which to me is still a symbol of success, status and a must have in society. But I choose to show it at the end of its life cycle, without being too direct about what I’m trying to convey but always be guided by aesthetics and composition,” he adds. Stavrou’s work looks to capture and document some of those mundane and banal scenes that we tend to drive by and are just part of the city fabric. He gives symbols of everyday life another point of view.

‘Dust’ Group Art Exhibition

Copperlemon, 6 Australia street 3017, Limassol. March 17 (5pm) until April 7. Daily viewings 3pm until 8pm (closed Mondays). For further information contact Alex Welch 97 830068