In the frame of the exhibition by Rinos Stefani and Sumer Erek at Limassol Municipal Arts Centre, running until May 31, 2025, Lemesos 2030 hosts a Roundtable Discussion with art theorists Gabriel Koureas and Esra Plumer, preceded by a tour of the exhibition on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Exploring themes of identity, memory, and human experience, Stefani’s “Human Targets” confronts violence and trauma, while Erek’s “Embodied Moments” delves into the intersections of body and space. Together, they offer a compelling dialogue on contemporary issues.

About the roundtable discussion

The event, hosted by Lemesos 2030, is a roundtable discussion entitled, “Art in Cyprus: a conversation on trauma, unresolved grief and contested narratives”. It brings together theorists Koureas and Plumer, with artists Stefani and Erek, as well as Ellada Evangelou from the Lemesos 2030 team.

The discussion aims to generate conversations around the arts in Lemesos, and Cyprus in general, and question if/how they have been defined by trauma and unresolved grief through personal narratives that challenge the contested histories of the island. Special emphasis will be given to the role of the human being, and human trauma in the work of the two artists.

Programme

  • 6.30-7.30pm Exhibition tour with the artists
  • 7.30-9pm Roundtable discussion [in English]
  • Taking place at Limassol Municipal Arts Centre – Apothikes Papadaki

For attendees coming from Nicosia, a bus will depart for Limassol from the Ledra Palace checkpoint at 5pm, setting off back to Nicosia from Limassol at 9.30pm.

Registration form for transportation by bus: https://forms.gle/vXc39AR355tNShR4A

About the panelists

Dr Gabriel Koureas is an art historian. His research concentrates on the memory and representation of conflict in relation to gender and sexuality in the 20th and 21st centuries. His most recent publication is the co-edited volume “Contemporary Art from Cyprus” (Bloomsbury, 2021). His current research concentrates on memory cultures of the East Mediterranean. He is the Founding Director of Celadon Centre of the Arts.

Dr Esra Plumer Bardak is an art historian, writer-researcher. She holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Nottingham. She has specialised in 20th and 21st centuries Western and Near Eastern Art. Her research interests include artistic strategies related to the history of psychoanalysis and psychiatric treatment methods, rethinking art history narratives in Cyprus with a particular focus on the Turkish Cypriot Community, and canon formation in conflicting histories and archives.

  • Organiser: Lemesos 2030
  • Artists: Rinos Stefani, Sumer Erek
  • In collaboration with: Limassol Municipality – Cultural Office, Dr. Nadia Anaxagorou

About Lemesos 2030

The Organisation Lemesos 2030 – European Capital of Culture Candidate City was established in November 2022 by the Limassol Municipality as an independent organisation, with the mission of bidding for the title in the first phase and, in case of success, the course and implementation of the European Capital of Culture proposal until 2030.

Lemesos 2030 Network