Contemporary Art from Cyprus

A book launch taking place at SPEL State Gallery in Nicosia presents the works and thoughts of various academics and artists on art in Cyprus. Sixteen contributors are part of the Contemporary Art from Cyprus: Politics Identities and Cultures across Borders book and the event on December 4 will welcome its editors and the public for an evening diving into local art practices.

The book provides the first-ever in-depth academic discussion of contemporary art in Cyprus. This collection of critical essays offers a theoretical and historical framework that contextualises art practices from the island while maintaining proximity to relevant international debates. Although not a complete history of contemporary Cypriot art, the volume uses Cyprus as a case study to explore notions of identity, regionalism and the tensions between the global and the local in contemporary art practices.

The volume concentrates on numerous current and pressing issues – all relevant beyond Cyprus – including, but not limited to, the emergence of the periphery, the importance of thriving localities and landscape, issues of memory and memorialisation, archaeology, artists’ identities, conflict and politics, social engagement, gender politics and curatorial alternatives. In doing all of this, Contemporary Art from Cyprus not only bears on current and future art practices in the region but highlights the importance of locality in a global context.

Contemporary Art from Cyprus: Politics Identities and Cultures across Borders

Book launch and discussion. Edited by Elena Stylianou, Evanthia Tselika and Gabriel Koureas. December 4. SPEL State Gallery, Nicosia. 11am. Free. In English