Tucked away by the Limassol market is a gallery that is well worth browsing
‘Criticism is easy, art is difficult’
(Detouches. 1732.)
PEOPLE have, and always will have, set ideas about what is truly beautiful and reasonably acceptable when it comes to buying a painting, sculpture, or a piece of ceramic.
Who has not thought on visiting a gallery (or overheard other people say) ‘but what the hell is this supposed to be?’ Or, when faced with an erect confection of wood and metal sporting twelve vibrating branches courtesy of the Anne Summers catalogue, come out with the inevitable ‘they call this ART!’?
That’s why a thin skin is a must for both artist and gallery owner who exhibits any interesting or tadge controversial works. However, anyone engaged in a creative art will tell you that the most feared reaction to their work would be a desultory shrug of the shoulders. Passion, either in favour or against, is far far preferable than no reaction.
With this in mind, an astute gallery owner will quickly learn what their core audience can tolerate without falling into the trap of serving up the same old stuff year after year, albeit either framed or presented differently. They also recognise that there is at least as much truly great stuff still being done, but, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find due to artists having suffered from creative muggings by the ‘established’ outlets; they are forced to price their works higher than the market value, in order to pay off the agent’s percentage, spiralling frame costs, rents and the printing of catalogues, flyers brochures and the like.
That’s why I thoroughly enjoy visiting the small, but perfectly formed, Orpheus Gallery in Limassol. To me, some of the exhibits that grace the wall are truly marvellous, others were less than stimulating, but that’s always the way. A friend who was with me had the reverse reaction; he drooled over what I wouldn’t give house room to and backed off when I suggested I could live happily with one particular painting. So, art certainly cannot please all of the people all of the time.
Christos Georgiou is the man who ultimately decides what is going to be displayed and exhibited within his shop. An artist and interior designer in his own right, he knows only too well the level of angst that is associated with artists trying to sell their works and he has, over the past few years, been active in introducing the unsuspecting folk of Limassol to a whole range of new, exciting, sometimes curious, but always interesting, exhibits.
Here, tucked behind the municipal hall, The Orpheus Gallery has become a Cypriot home for the wonderful works of the Athenian ceramicist Byron Dimitrakoulis, whose silver and bronze toned and textured figures just ache to be taken home and lovingly cared for atop a coffee table. Spyroulla is the quirky pottery lady who creates stunning, colourful, curvy female figures which double as vases when viewed from the rear. Pambos Mihlis also shows his uniquely graphic work at the Orpheus and anyone not familiar with this chap’s growing talent should quickly get on down to the gallery and buy one of his rather exquisite pine-framed pieces. Chris encouraged Greek glass designers to create a range of strikingly-coloured pieces which literally sparkle, illuminate, and happily complement the limited-edition range of bronze statues that manage to sit comfortably only a short distance away from the ‘gang’ of triple, life-size, metal salamanders which currently cling onto the rear wall of the gallery.
As for the name of the gallery, it’s quite appropriate considering that Orpheus was recognised as a highly talented, creative sort of bloke, being a musician and a poet, who could sing so sweetly that wild beasts would follow him about, trees and plants would bow down to him, and even the wildest of men would be calmed into becoming gentle and loving.
After a browse around the Orpheus gallery I felt wonderfully calm, even gentle, but also exceedingly pleased that we have such an eclectic, fascinating, and utterly irresistible outlet for artists.
Orpheus Gallery. 29 Athinon Street, Limassol. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am-1pm, 3pm-7pm. Wednesday and Saturday 9.30am-1.30pm. Sunday closed. Tel: 25 341646
