Gallery without walls
Ten artists from around the world gathered in a cloud of dust last week to create the second part of an international sculpture park
I could see white dust filling the air from the main road but thought nothing of it. However, approaching the park, the scene was quite breathtaking. A woodland slope was host to a group of ten dust-coated artists, each working on individual pieces of limestone.
Over two weeks they had been carving sculptures as part of the second International Sculpture Symposium held in Ayia Varvara.
These ten sculptures were unveiled last week and have taken their places alongside ten existing sculptures at the International Sculpture Park, that were created during a similar event last year.
Despite being on a hillside outside Nicosia, the park is called ‘international’ due to the participation of overseas artists, from as far afield as Cuba and Argentina.
“The International Sculpture Symposium is an EU-funded programme that helps Europe’s regions form partnerships to work together on common projects,” said Christos Lanitis, one of the artists and a member of the Friends of Fine Arts Association, which first realised the dream of a park. “By sharing knowledge and experience, these partnerships enable the regions involved to develop new solutions to economic, social and environmental challenges.”
Last year, the first symposium had sculptors from France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus working together to set up the first part of the park. “The association’s aim is to promote both Cypriot and foreign artists by organising exhibitions in Cyprus and abroad, and, of course, educating our members and the public about the arts in general and cultural and artistic events in particular,” said Christos. The Ayia Varvara community council donated the land, which, in addition to the sculptures, is home to eucalyptus trees and a small chapel of the Holy Cross that sits on top of the hill.
The scene from this year’s gathering was reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands, with clouds of dust surrounding each artist as they worked away on sculptures in the open air. Some were in overalls sans T-shirts due to the heat while others were covered from head to toe in clothing and masks. Tools were scattered around the area, and the atmosphere was cheerful despite the pressure to finish in time for the unveiling last Sunday. “Some of us have worked together on other symposiums,” said Nabi Basbus, from Lebanon. “But it’s such a nice time for all of us because we meet new people and live with them for 15 days, meanwhile doing what we love, so we’re one big, happy family.”
Although last year’s symposium did not have a theme, members of the association decided to adopt the idea of having one from now on. “It was Christos Lanitis’ idea to focus this year’s sculptures on one theme, the sea, because he’s such a fan,” says Christiana Megalemou, PR spokesperson for the symposium. “The idea was to give all these people from different backgrounds a theme so they could elaborate and create something the way they understand and view it.” Although some of the artists’ English was on the poor side, it was clear that they were all happy to lend each other a helping hand whenever necessary, and, of course, the language of art was widely spoken.
The Friends of Fine Arts Association, a registered non-profit organisation, has big plans for this large stretch of hill. At present, however, describing the area as a park is a little misleading. There is little greenery and few facilities. “Nothing has happened yet apart from the roofed kiosk and seating area but our objective is to create a sculpture park with no admission fee, that way making it accessible to everyone,” said Christiana. “It has already become an educational destination for schoolchildren and college students, and we’re hoping that a cafeteria will also be operating for the community and the youth in particular.”
This is encouraging, but improvements to the site in the last year have been fewer than organisers had hoped. The reason is simple.
“Lack of funds and sponsors,” said Christiana. “The younger generation might appreciate what we are trying to do here, but the truth is that a lot of people don’t understand or simply don’t see the point of it.” The EU funds 50 per cent of the costs involved, but the rest have to be covered by other sponsors and more need to be found.
The idea of a gallery without walls is intriguing enough but the fact that it also enables people to respond to these pieces of art, explore them and think about the sculpture in relation to the landscape, is a thrilling concept. However, the sad fact is that although people, regardless of race, creed and colour had gathered at this small village just outside of Nicosia to create a beautiful, creative recreational area, it’s a wonder if it will ever be fully appreciated.
The International Sculpture Park is situated in the village of Ayia Varvara
THE ARTISTS
Jose Villa, Cuba: Born in Santiago in 1950, he studied secondary level in sculpture at the National School of Arts in Prague. He is an artist who prefers to project his works in public and urban spaces, at medium or monumental scale and uses fundamental materials such as stone, steel and bronze. In more than 20 years of professional work he has participated in 27 international symposiums of sculpture and 33 of his works have been placed in important sites in Mexico, Bolivia, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Portugal, Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, Chile and Cuba.
His sculpture is the only one that does not have a title. “It’s abstract,” said the man of few words.
Jean Paul Chablais, France: Born in France in 1952, Chablais is a member of The Maison des Artistes Paris and of the AIESM (International Association for Monumental Sculpture Events). He has worked in France and abroad (Europe, Australia, North and South America, Mexico, Costa Rica and Asia), participating in many exhibitions and sculpture symposiums. His art works are on display in various public spaces around the world and are part of private collections too. His sculpture is “something like a boat”.
Marie Seborova, Czech Republic: Born in 1966 in Kromeriz, Marie graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. She has worked in the Czech Republic as well as abroad (Turkey, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Hungary), participating in exhibitions and sculpture and metal symposiums. She has also won numerous awards including First Prizes at the 2nd Sculpture Symposium 2007 in Holland and the 29th Cast Bronze Medal Symposium 2005 in Hungary. Her works are also on display in public places in the Czech Republic and abroad and many are part of private collections too. She loves sculpting and enjoyed working on her stone art titled ‘Siren’.
Miguel Angel, Argentina: Miguel graduated from three National Schools of Fine Arts. He lived and worked in Argentina as an independent sculptor and restorer until 2000. Since then, he began an itinerant life, staying in England, Mexico and Germany and participated in international sculpture events in China, Italy and Chile, all of which has introduced an international dimension to his expression. His work is rooted in Latin America with a particular reference to the culture of the Andes. A recurrent theme in his work is the relationship of man with his environment, which he sometimes sees as harmonic, sometimes as defensive and often as aggressive. His sculpture’s title is Mar y Piedra (sea and stone or stone of the sea, apparently, it’s open for interpretation).
Sibylle Jacqueline, Switzerland: Born in Lucerne, Sibylle lives and works in her home country. For two years, she took a course in nude drawing, but since 1996 has focused on sculpting. Having participated in many symposiums
around the world including Spain and Italy, she now spends her time in New York and Miami working on her pieces. Sibylle’s sculpture is an archaic form of floating. “I wanted to include more of the movement and effects the sea has rather than an object in specific,” she said.
Boldi, Hungary: Born in Budapest, this artist adopted the name Boldi in 2003, at about the same time he became a member of many artist societies. He has also taken part in symposiums around the world including those in Brazil, Holland and Dubai. The Ayia Varvara Symposium is his second entry this year and his sculpture is a big shell.
Daniel Jones, UK: Daniel was born in the UK and since finishing his bachelor’s degree at Doncaster College and Loughborough College of Art and Design, he went on to take part in many art projects around England. He has also worked at other international symposiums in Dubai and South Korea, creating large-scale granite sculptures. His current projects include creating an outdoor literacy classroom from carved oak, limestone and earth workings at a primary school in the UK. He also has a solo exhibition of 20 carved granite seating sculptures in East Yorkshire. His sculpture for the International Sculpture Symposium in Cyprus is a seascape.
Nabi Basbus, Lebanon: Born in Rachana, in 1963, Nabil has been joining and entering symposiums since 1992. He was also part of Cyprus’ first symposium last October. His entries have included working on other materials such as snow, wood and metal. In 1998 he spent a month making a sculpture for Limspringe Road in Germany. Since 1999 he has been teaching Fine Art at the Lebanese American University. His sculpture’s title is Man of the Sea. “I wanted to create a diver’s image, the way the water and the water’s movement affects his body.”
Zehra Sonya, Cyprus: Born in Limassol in 1972, Zehra is one of the brightest of the new generation of Cypriot sculptors on the island. After receiving her master’s degree, she became a member of the faculty of the Department of History Art and Archaeology at the Eastern Mediterranean University. She has also joined group exhibitions and open air sculpture workshops and won an Accomplishment Award in a competition that took place under the joint sponsorship of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Hacettepe University and the Contemporary Sculpture Association in 1997.
Christos Lanitis, Cyprus: Christos, a member of the Friends of the Fine Arts Association and an artist himself, is one of the masterminds behind the symposium and it was he who picked the theme for this year. He is also the director of the controversial film Akamas and other theatre plays. Christos’ sculpture “is something like a sailboat so far,” he jokingly said.
