Arte-facts (2017-2022)
“Arte-facts” is a photography project that looks into the relationships of Cypriots with archaeology. The emphasis is on alternative narratives and omissions: the unacknowledged and unnamed Cypriot worker at archaeological excavations, the people behind copies of the statue of Aphrodite, and the role of photography in archaeological knowledge production. While, “original” Greek and Roman statues are often carefully archived, preserved and exhibited as museum objects on pedestals or behind glass cases both in Cyprus and abroad, real-size copies step down from their pedestals and live an everyday life. They become domestic objects, often exposed to various weather conditions and placed alongside plants and other everyday objects. I decided to focus on one iconic statue that is found in a variety of commercial products and official documents (ex. the Cypriot passport, currency, stamps, etc.) and one that it’s often reproduced and found in gardens: the statue of Aphrodite of Soli, a marble statue from the 1st century BC and currently on display at the Cyprus Museum.
The project includes mainly photographic works, silkscreens and a virtual reality (VR) experience.
A part of the arte-facts project is “Aphrodite’s Sisters” (2017-ongoing) which includes portraits of real size copies of the statue of Aphrodite of Soloi with its owners at the location that is found. It also includes interviews with the owners about their relationship with the statue. One of the photographs show the original statue found at the Cyprus Museum with Eftychia Zachariou, the Curator of the museum. A selection of portraits is presented here. In order of appearance: Costas, Hambis, Costas M., Eftychia, Andreas and Katerina.
Exhibition Views: “Arte-facts”, Point Centre for Contemporary Art, Nicosia, July 2020
Note: Part of the work was also shown at 1. 3. the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London, UK, 2022, 2. “Ar[t]chaeology” exhibition, Nicosia Municipal Arts Center, Nicosia, 2018/2019, and 3. Venice Biennale of Architecture (16th International Architecture Exhibition), Venice, Italy, 2018.
A limited edition artist’s book (200 copies) published in 2020 completes the series of works. The book, apart from the photographs, includes short texts from the following academics, curators and artists: Dimitris Platzos (Professor of Classical Archaeology), Yiannis Hamilakis (Professor of Archaeology and Modern Greek Studies), Hercules Papaioannou (Curator of Photography), Polina Nikolaou (Historical-Cultural Geographer), Kyriaki Costa (Artist), Nicos Philippou (Photographer and Lecturer), Mette Sandbye (Professor of Photographic Studies), Elena Stylianou (Associate Professor in Art and Art Theory), and Eleana Yalouri (Associate Professor of Anthropology).
"arte-facts", 2020, 13 x 18 cm, 68 pages, softcover, 200 copies limited edition print, numbered, Pistou Books (artist's imprint)
The book can be found in local bookstores in Cyprus or can be purchased from here: https://thephooks.com/products/arte-facts/