Troodos, the Akamas and Karpasia peninsulas, Ammochostos (Famagusta), Rizokarpaso, Leonarisso, Arnadi, Galinoporni, Ovgoros, Platani, Peristerona, Vitsada, Lef konoiko, Afaneia, Bellapais, Kazafani, Klepini, Kythrea, Ampelikou, Keryneia, Lapithos, Akanthou, Larnakas tis Lapithou, Petra tou Limniti, Vouni, Agia Eirini, Filia, Mansoura, Pomos, Gialia, Polis Chrysochous, Kritou Marottou, Souskiou, Lempa, Kissonerga, Kourion, Erimi, Parekklisia, Mari, Maroni, Choirokoitia, Agia Varvara, Deneia, Katydata, Egkomi, Arsos, Melousia, Tremetousia, Dromolaxia, Larnaka (ancient Kition), Pera Oreinis, Dali, Sotira, Paralimni…
When Katerina Attalidou first came to us with her proposal to embark on an island-wide journey in search of the areas from which selected antiquities exhibited in the Cyprus Museum came from, and to consequently create a series of watercolours, the process of traditional archaeological surface survey instantly came to our minds. Conducting archaeological surveys is an important part of the work performed by the Department of Antiquities. Many of the island’s archaeological sites have been recorded and investigated as a result of archaeological survey and others still await to be discovered.
Attalidou, led by the ‘creatures’ of the Cyprus Museum, has performed her own survey, influenced also by the multifaceted history of Cypriot archaeology and of course her own personal experiences and memories. Katerina has performed her survey with all senses activated, her watercolours becoming a precious voice that calls us to also experience the island’s loaded, beautiful and troubled places…
Efthymia Alphas
co-curator of the exhibition
In the same place
I felt the need to walk the places where the great artefacts, which are today exhibited at the Cyprus Museum, were discovered, to spend time in the spaces where they once existed, where they were activated. I felt the urge to observe the landscape that brought them to light, its lines and colours, the way these transform at different times of the day.
It was with great awe that I began this landscape observation, consciously surrendering to the experience, in order to record, marking in colour, the specificity of each location, but also so as to get attuned to the high-energy vibration that emanates from each place.
My goal was to finally create, through observation, a pictorial record of my experience, as I stood before the landscape, in the landscape, in time. A series of painting notes were thus born, which, I hope, carry some of the energy and soft tenderness of each place, and are exhibited together with the objects related to them, in the Cyprus Museum exhibition spaces.
Katerina Attalidou
Cyprus Museum opening hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 8.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 9.00 – 17.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 13.00
Monday: closed
Every first Wednesday of the month: 8.00 – 20.00