NICOSIA will be in the spotlight of world culture in the autumn of next year, as it hosts Manifesta 6, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art, considered to be one of the most important artistic events worldwide.
First staged in Rotterdam almost a decade ago, Manifesta has now grown into an acclaimed event, which offers a platform for emerging artists.
According to the organisers, “the city of Nicosia will serve as a microcosm for critical reinterpretation of the complex colonial and post-colonial history of Europe as played out within this broader territory of contingency.”
Manifesta adds that reaching the Eastern Mediterranean was imperative towards broadening their horizons.
“Manifesta 6 in Nicosia, and the region, intends to serve as an indicator of change; challenging Manifesta as a biennial to change its specific format and create more intensive and binding relationships with local and regional producers and artistic community. Manifesta 6, which aims to set itself in this bi-communal context, will not attempt to mediate over 30 years of complex Cypriot polemical and political conditions, despite the fact that Nicosia is a divided city as highlighted by the physical presence of the United Nations troops at the so-called Green Line.”
Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zambelas was particularly upbeat about the occasion, adding that he wished to thanks all those who helped place Nicosia in the cultural spotlight of the world.
“The fact that I am here smiling and enjoying myself means that Nicosia is about to host one of the most important and fascinating cultural events in the world and the biennial Manifest 6 event is rated in the top three Contemporary Art events,” he said at the weekend. “We hope that the event which will take place in 2006 will be bi-communal with both of the island’s main communities taking part. In 2006 Nicosia will feel the pride of any other European city.”
The Executive Director of Manifesta Hedwig Fijen said she felt very proud to be in Nicosia.
“We are very delighted and honoured to be guests here in Nicosia and we are very much looking forward to collaborating together over the next few years. The people of Nicosia have already shown that they can work on a professional level and therefore we are very proud to be here.”
She added that Nicosia was a good location to make new friends of the art world.
“Nicosia, being the capital of Cyprus, plays an important role in the history of Europe but also an important role in terms of relationships to the Middle East and North Africa. Manifesta is the only nomadic biennial so we think Manifesta, and especially for the international art public, is a good way to see the rich history and heritage of Nicosia and Cyprus whilst at the same time set up a communication with other people in the entire region.”
www.manifesta.org or www.nimac.com.cy
