Completing the circle

Colouring books for adults are all the rage as a remedy for stress. With that in mind, and also with an eye on children and how colouring can help educate them, the book My Nicosia Mandala will be launched in Nicosia on Sunday.

The book depicts a series of 11 mandalas– meaning circle in Sanskrit – set within the framework of the walls of the old city of Nicosia.

Melissa Hekkers came up with the idea for the book. She began to create Nicosian mandalas by photographing elements on both sides of the divided city to create the 11 mandalas in the book. Each one represents one of the bastions of the capital. The metal work on windows and doors, the stone work of buildings and churches, the floor patterns within traditional houses, the metal street lights and the balconies within the walls of Nicosia are the inspiration behind the creation of the mandalas within the pages of the book.

The idea behind the colouring part of the book is to sooth and settle the soul as colouring has been deemed a healing process, while also learning about the city of Nicosia with Hekkers’ accompanying words.

Hekkers thought the idea of colouring and using mandalas would work well in this context, as with mandalas there is balance and union, something that is needed in the divided capital.

“Creating these mandalas, looking deeper into the details of Nicosia and embracing the city as a whole has been a journey I thoroughly enjoyed,” says Hekkers.

During the book launch, visitors will have the opportunity to colour in three life form Nicosia Mandalas which will be exhibited at Cvar once completed.

The book is written in English, Greek and Turkish and will be on sale.

My Nicosia Mandala – Colouring Book Launch
Launch of the colouring book for children and adults. November 27. Cvar, Nicosia. In Greek with English and Turkish translation. 2.30pm. Tel: 22-300999

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