New exhibition takes a look at Amathus

Twenty seven oil on canvas paintings make up Andreas Efesopoulos’ new exhibition at Gloria Gallery which opens on Wednesday. The works, created by the artist from 1994 to 2020, have already been presented at the Municipal Arts Center of Limassol – Papadaki Warehouses and are scheduled to be displayed also in the municipal spaces of other cities of Cyprus. After the end of this tour, the works will be part of the collection of the Municipal Gallery of Limassol, as the artist wishes for this work to be preserved as a single, monumental ensemble and as such to be given to the public for a permanent exhibition. This month, Efesopoulos’ Limassol paintings reach Nicosia until July 30.

In a book by the artist titled the same as the exhibition Amathus – Old Limassol he writes: “in my paintings, you will not see my dreams and my own associations but a clear representation of the source of information and inspiration. I try, if ever possible, to paint the swirling air, the light that illuminates, the earth that is shaken and the damage that, all together, they cause incessantly. Damage to stones often creates the most unexpected and complex formations in shape and surface. Even random assemblies resulting from all kinds of displacements are magical. The wild vegetation and the drastic and dramatic encounter of all the elements with the sky, the clouds, and the turbulent sea complete successive theatrical performances. I did what I could to give it a life so that they might be able to become a trigger or motivation for each viewer to make their own associations and myths.”

With this body of work, the artist’s desire and intention is to offer to the Cypriot public, but also foreign visitors, a dynamic and sensitive tour of the historical and archaeological wealth of Amathus with a realistic and romantic approach that stimulates the feeling of appreciation of and pride in Cypriot cultural heritage, while at the same time, to strengthen the sense of responsibility for its preservation and utilisation.

Amathus – Old Limassol

Solo exhibition by Andreas Efesopoulos. July 7-30. Gloria Gallery, Nicosia. Monday: 6pm-8pm. Tuesday – Friday: 10.30am – 12.45pm and 6pm-8pm. Saturday: 10.30am – 12.45pm. Tel: 22-762605