Contemporary art exhibition “HAPPY FEW” by Andreas Kalli at the archaeological site of Amathous

The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Public Works announces the opening of the contemporary art exhibition HAPPY FEW by Andreas Kalli at the Amathous Archaeological Site, on Saturday April 16, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. The exhibition is part of a series of events organized for the celebrations of the International Day for Monuments and Sites 2022.

The archaeological site of Amathous hosts for the first time an exhibition of contemporary art of the most interesting in terms of artistic conception. By using a natural material (the bush), Andreas Kalli transcribes the ancient columns of the site up to the present day. By having as a driving force the search for the indissoluble relationship of the human – creator with the social environment and having as its core artistic and conceptual research, the concepts of evolution, life, consciousness, collective memory and trace, Andreas Kalli creates the sculptural installation HAPPY FEW.

The encounter of contemporary art with Antiquity in the public space activates and highlights the eternal and rich dialogue around questions of history, memory, identity, culture and the environment. The exhibition foregrounds questions of communication and self-reflection. The viewer is invited to a new encounter with ancient civilization, which pushes us all to reconnect with the past in order to rediscover our relationship to time and the space that surrounds us.

The exhibition is organized by the Department of Antiquities, in collaboration with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) – Cyprus and will be accompanied by a catalog in Greek and English.

On the opening night, musician Freedom Candlemaker will present the musical version of the thoughts and reflections that led to Andreas Kalli’s sculptural installation with his compositions and songs.

Professional Biography: Andreas Kalli was born in Larnaka in 1987. He studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts (2007-2012), while also attending Central Saint Martin School of Art and Design in London (2010- 2011). In October 2021, he presented his third solo exhibition, The Story of a Secret at “Gallery O” in Larnaka. In 2015, he was the first artist to inaugurate the series of exhibitions at AG Leventis Gallery in Lefkosia titled Young Cypriot Artists. The same year, he represented Cyprus at the Biennale of Young Artists in Milan, entitled No Food’s Land. He has participated in numerous collective exhibitions in Greece, France, Italy, England and elsewhere. He lives and works in Cyprus.

Curators: Niki Papaspyrou, Yiannis Violaris Duration: April 16 – May 20, 2022

Opening and reception: Saturday April 16, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Opening hours: Monday-Sunday: 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (Opening hours of the Archaeological Site). The site will remain closed on Easter Sunday (24/04/2022).

Contact number: +357 25635226 Tickets: Entrance fee to the archaeological site (€2.50). Admission to the opening night will be free.

Parking: On the evening of the opening, visitors are requested to park in front of the entrance to the archaeological site to the west and to the parking lot of the church of Agia Varvara to the east. Access to the exhibition will be via the east and west entrances.

The directives of the decrees of the Ministry of Health concerning the objective of preventing the spread of COVID-19 will be applied.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works.

(PIO)