About
Description
‘HOME’ is an international photographic project organized by ex-Artis
Cultural Association in Cyprus and it is based on the collaboration of
photographers from different cultural orientations under the guidance of
specialists of photography. Photographers from Pafos, Limasol, Nicosia,
Bucharest, Patra and Thessaloniki participate in this project.
The project started on the 27th of June 2017 in Drousia, a village in Pafos
district in Cyprus, as an artists’ residency and workshop for 6 days. Twelve
photographers had the opportunity to learn from two experts of photography:
Jason Eskenazi (USA) and Achilles Nasios (Sweeden) who introduced them in a
dialogue and self-awareness, linked to their cultural expertise, to re-define the
idea of ‘home’.
Through this workshop, the photographers had the opportunity to share their
own work and get feedback from the two educators. Moreover, they were
introduced in a discussion about what photography does and how they can produce
images based on their memories, feelings, emotions and discovering themselves
through photography. It appeared that even though ‘home’ is a simple word it
encloses great complexity.
Answering ‘what does home mean to you?’ provided numerous explanations
depending on different thoughts and feelings that came up. For some it is a
place or a location where something grows or originates. For others it is a
social unit formed by a family living together or a congenial environment where
they feel safe and loved or even the house that they live in. For some others it
is a more abstract notion which has to do with their psychosynthesis and
emotions.
After the introductive workshop, the photographers spent 3 days
photographing in Drousia and the wider location in an effort to produce photographs
on the idea of ‘home’ aiming to communicate their own understanding and
perception of ‘home’ in an unknown environment. The educators/supervisors
provided guidance and tried to push the photographers to their limits so they could
interrogate their ideas of what ‘home’ really means to them. Private sessions
with the two experts took place in an effort to help each photographer decide
his/her approach of the idea. Based on this guidance, the photographers
continued producing photos until the last day. In a community assembly on the
last night of the residence, all participants projected their work and got
feedback from the educators.
The project continued with the photographers producing photos at their
places of origin based on the same idea for the next three months. The
photographs they have produced from both locations have been included in a book
and an exhibition (curated by Cheryl Newman) in Pafos in 17th December 2017
while efforts are made to transfer the exhibition in Nicosia and abroad (proposals are welcomed).
Concept
Even though ‘home’ is a simple word it encloses great complexity. Answering
‘what does home mean to you?’ would provide numerous explanations depending on
different thoughts and feelings that come up when you hear or think of the word.
Thus, HOME is never a fixed condition. It is more a product of interactions and
relations, shaped by changing cultural frameworks and experiences.
Cyprus as a historical place linking three continents has been the home of
several cultures. Its prehistoric age inhabitants were joined by the Mycenaean
Greeks 3500 years ago, who introduced and established their civilization, thus
permanently instilling the island’s Greek roots. Many other cultures followed
since then, including Phoenicians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Franks,
Venetians, Ottomans, British, all leaving behind visible traces of their
passage. Thus, Cyprus, as the easternmost part of Europe, constitutes a
cultural bridge between people of different religions, cultures and ways of
life.
Photography has the power to approach this matter. The challenge for
photographers and artists selected for the HOME project was to reveal their
imaginative sensitivity and their empathic sight to explore and become the
interpreters of such a complex and dynamic idea.
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