Envisioning a future for traditional handicrafts through contemporary art

Craftland, a project initiated by Thanos Hotels and Resorts and the Cyprus Handicraft Service, will be hosted at the Anassa Hotel from Friday until October, bridging handcraft traditions and contemporary art.

Developed and curated by Christos Kyriakides, Craftland evolved into a multifaceted project aiming to empower handicraft arts and techniques, by exploring possible ways of preserving these delicate and time-consuming creative processes. It consists of a contemporary art exhibition, performances, workshops and a shop operating at the hotel premises.

The Craftland exhibition emerges as a response to the following set of questions: Can contemporary art have a role in expanding our knowledge and understanding of traditional materials and techniques? Will the craft maintain its sensibilities in the digital era? What are the bytes of this evolving database of practices made of, and which drive can safe-keep their futurity?

The exhibition showcases artworks by 14 Cypriot contemporary artists and artisans of different generations whose practices involve methods, techniques and modes of thinking relating to handicraft traditions. Taking the form of subtle interventions throughout the hotel’s common areas both indoor and outdoor, the exhibition invites the visitor to experience a selection of dynamic and refined applications of traditional handicrafts in contemporary art.

Craftland – the shop carries a curated selection of open and limited-edition items commissioned and produced especially for the project. More than 30 local artisans and artists have designed and created objects using a wide range of traditional crafts, such as embroidery, weaving, textiles, leatherwork, metallurgy, gold and silversmithing, basketry, woodwork, glass and ceramics.

The Craftland workshops will take place during the opening weekend where three master craftsmen and craftswomen invite participants to experience different materials and techniques of basket-weaving, tapestry and ceramics. Craftland will open its doors on Friday at 7pm followed by a live performance by sound artists Maria Spivak and Androula Kafa at 8pm.

Craftland

Project and exhibition curated by Christos Kyriakides. June 24-October 7. Anassa Hotel, Paphos. Opening night: 7pm. Tel:26-888000. [email protected], [email protected]. www.anassa.com