The picturesque and artistic village of Lania is about to host an international group exhibition at numerous locations. Titled La Bataille de Vins, meaning The Battle of Wines, it will open this Sunday and take visitors on a walk through the village and Cyprus’ wine-making history.

At the opening event at 4pm, academic and Director of Patticheion Municipal Museum, Historical Archives and Research Centre of Limassol Mimis Sophocleous will give an opening speech to welcome visitors.

Fifteen artists from Cyprus, Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Malta will participate in the exhibition diving into the island’s viniculture. Although the exhibition and its title take inspiration from the poem La Bataille des Vins by Henri d’Andeli, which revolves around the first wine competition hosted by King Philip II of France, the exhibition goes beyond this.

It deviates from the traditional and folklore perceptions and interpretations of wine culture in Cyprus and proposes new questions as the artists reimagine practices and spaces. Different spaces in Lania host the artists’ work. The village is a fitting place for the exhibition as it is a community known for its art, hospitality and winemaking.

Unconventional installations and collaborative actions will be presented in six different locations in Lania until December 1. With the help of maps, visitors can visit the Old Police Station where three artists exhibit their creations, the Klelia Hadjiioannou Event Venue and the Traditional Kafeneio where a collection of drawings will be displayed.

In the periphery of the village square, three other important spaces can be explored. One is the Traditional Wine Press, the Folklore Museum, which will have a video projection, and the Olive Press. Throughout the exhibition’s duration (lasting until December 1), visitors can experience the hospitality Lania is known for and browse the works by: Evelyn Anastasiou (Cyprus), Klitsa Antoniou (Cyprus), Adonis Volanakis (Greece), Jake Chapman (United Kingdom), Elina Ioannou (Cyprus), Stelios Kallinikou (Cyprus), Melita Couta (Cyprus), Phanos Kyriacou (Cyprus), Niamh O’Malley (Ireland), Natacha Antão Moutinho (Portugal) and Alexandros Psychoulis (Greece). The exhibition is supported by contextual, historical and theoretical texts by Dr Gabriel Koureas (Cyprus), Dr Niki Young (Malta) and Dr Prokopis Christou (Cyprus). The organization, production and art curating are by George Lazoglou (Cyprus) and the concept, research and art direction by Klitsa Antoniou (Cyprus). 

Touching on the concept of hospitality, Commandaria and Cyprus viniculture in general, the exhibition is a voyage across the ages, looking into the future of wine and local identity. “Archaeology has demonstrated,” say organisers, “that winemaking in Cyprus dates back to 3500BC, marking an existential journey through time, defining Cypriot history and identity through the relationship of its inhabitants with their homeland.”

La Bataille de Vins

International group exhibition on Cyprus viniculture. October 27-December 1. Lania village, Limassol district. Opening event: 4pm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10am-6pm or by appointment