The exhibition Repetitive Acts: The Power of Weaving and Textile in Contemporary Art, opening on Friday at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, explores the enduring power of weaving as a medium of communication, storytelling and resistance.

From ancient Peruvian textiles to contemporary Afghan War Rugs, textiles have served as a silent yet eloquent transmitter of meaning and memory. This exhibition brings weaving’s legacy into the present, showing how contemporary artists from Cyprus transcend their domestic associations to become a space for political, cultural and personal expression. The act of making the repetitive patterns and the ritual of repetition in the process are all equally significant.

The exhibition unpacks both the processes and meanings of contemporary reinterpretations of weaving and explores the political, cultural and mnemonic meanings of what has been historically associated with undervalued housework or folk art.

Using intricate techniques and intermedial practices (photography, drawing, sound, video and installation), the artists in the exhibition reinvent the familiar crafts of embroidery, knitting and weaving, blurring the lines between past and present, known and unknown, expected and unexpected. The works often challenge patriarchal structures, normative trends and power relations.

Threads, a modest nod to the latest examples of a long-standing local tradition, emphasises weaving’s presence in the everyday. Featuring objects, archival photographic material, works by Nina Iacovou, Toula Liasi and Vassia Adamou-Vanezi, as well as interviews with weaving scholars, Threads weaves the metaphorical and literal connections between this long-standing art and contemporary practice.

In effect, Repetitive Acts invites reflection on weaving and textiles not as static traditions but as dynamic and evolving, ultimately also offering new perspectives on Cyprus’ layered histories and contemporary art practices while reminding us of the transformative, liberating potential of this ancient yet ever-relevant art form.

Apart from the exhibition, a parallel programme of events will follow as the exhibition runs until April 2025. The agenda begins this December, with performances, tours and talks. On December 13 and 14, a performance called Tanisma by the Selas Dance Company will take place at 7pm. Then, guided tours by the curator Dr Elena Stylianou will follow, on January 22 in Greek and on March 5 in English.

Educational programmes for children aged 4 to 7 will welcome young visitors on December 28, January 25, February 22, March 15 and April 12, designed by museum educator Elena Panagiotou. What’s more, weaving workshops for adults organised by the Cyprus Handicraft Service will be held though their dates have not been announced yet as well as a panel discussion on Weaving Reinvented.

Repetitive Acts: The Power of Weaving and Textile in Contemporary Art

Group exhibition. December 6-April 26. NiMAC, Nicosia. opening night: 7.30pm. Wednesday – Saturday: 10am – 8pm. Sunday: 10am – 6pm. Tel: 22-797400. www.nimac.org.cy