A group of artists comprising the duo LLC (Peter Eramian, Emiddio Vasquez), the collective Endrosia (Alexandros Xenophontos, Andreas Andronikou, Doris Mari Demetriadou, Irini Khenkin, Marina Ashioti, Niki Charalambous, Kyriaki Rafaelia Tsiridou), and Haig Aivazian has been chosen to represent Cyprus at the 60th Venice Biennale of Art.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture.
According to the Deputy Ministry, the group’s proposal is entitled “On a wildflower-lined gravel track off a quiet thoroughfare…” and was selected by the Deputy Ministry’s Advisory Committee for the Selection of Artists and Works (Eleonora Antoniadou, Gabriel Koureas, Louli Michaelidou, Christodoulos Panayiotou, Maria Petrides) among a total of 23 proposals submitted in response to an Open Call last March.
The committee unanimously selected this proposal due to its refreshing, multilayered, and dynamic nature. It explores current ideas and brings attention to both a local microhistory and the broader postcolonial experience.
The proposal focuses on the concept of ‘ghosting’ within social theory, raising questions about how past and present social powers influence our daily lives. It offers innovative methodologies that address relevant issues, employing a multi-media, visitor-centred approach and engaging with local communities, the Deputy Ministry said.
Notably, the selected proposal breaks away from the traditional model of a single curator and artist, adopting a collaborative inter-generational approach. Its strength lies in its methodology, the collaborative experience of artistic practice, and its inclusive vision.
The 60th edition of the Venice Biennale, directed by Adriano Pedrosa, will revolve around the overarching theme of “Foreigners Everywhere.” This theme draws inspiration from the Turin anarchist collective of the same name, which, at the turn of the millennium, addressed issues of racism and xenophobia, emphasising the sense of alienation experienced as foreigners in a global society.
The Cyprus pavilion will be hosted at Associazione Culturale Spiazzi, Castello 3865, 30124 Venezia, near the Arsenale, one of the main exhibition venues of the Venice Biennale.
The 60th edition of the Venice Biennale will open on April 17, 2024, for the media and accredited professionals, and on April 20 for the general public.
