A house in focus

By Maria Gregoriou

THE Point Centre for Contemporary Art is currently holding an exhibition of photographs taken by Swiss architectural photographer Helene Binet of the house designed by Cypriot architect Neoptolemos Michaelides.

The exhibition highlights the work of one of the key figures of architectural modernism in Cyprus through Binet’s lens. The house’s exterior and interior are brought into focus and illustrate Michaelides’ simple but not simplistic forms, local traditional structural elements and materials which, together with some modern elements, created the place where the architect and his artist wife lived.

Before structuring her images, Binet spent time in and around the house which was constructed in the mid-sixties, exploring its structure so she could capture the qualities and elements of its construction. The images she came up with introduce or re-introduce us to the world of architecture. Her photographs get us thinking about the process of imagining our dream house and having us think about the essence of things, a process that defined Michaelides’ working and living philosophy.

Binet is internationally acknowledged as one of the world’s leading architectural photographers. She established her own personal style in this field during the past 25 years. In each photo shoot she uses a unique way of looking at buildings to penetrate to their core, capture the values and truths they hold, and expose their textures and materials while interplaying with light and shadow. Her images present us with an experience of the building instead of a view and reveal the architect’s vision.

There will also be an artist talk today at 11am by architect and researcher at Mesarch Lab, University of Cyprus Petros Phokaides and the independent art and research collective Pick Name.

Phokaides will talk about architectural discourses in magazines and books found in Michaelides’ office. He is hoping to exchange ideas with historians and theorists of architecture and come up with critical perspectives crossing Michaelides’ work and the post-war architectural culture.

Pick Name will concentrate on talking about Michaelides in light of his conversations with Maro Yiakoumi, a former architectural designer who worked with the architect.

Photography Exhibition
Solo exhibition by Helene Binet. Until January 31. Point Centre for Contemporary Art. 2 Evagorou Avenue, 1097 Nicosia. Tuesday to Friday: 11am-6pm. Saturday: 11am-3pm. Tel: 22-662053

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