1984-1991 school of fine arts

In 1984 Maria Papacharalambous took first place in the entrance examinations for the Athens Supreme School of Fine Arts. She graduated with honours in 1991 with scholarships from the Greek and Cypriot governments. She also studied music and phonetics at the Athens National Conservatory.
She held her first solo exhibition in 1991 at the House of Cyprus in Athens and at Diaspro Art Centre in Nicosia. She represented Greece at Recontre 91 des ecoles d’arts de la Mediterranee in Tunisia in 1991 and at Libr’Art Salon International de l’art, in Chevigny in Belgium in 93. She was chosen by the Youth Secretariat for the ‘6 Young Cypriot Artists’ exhibition at K Gallery in London. Painting, sculpture – ‘primitive figures, compositions reminiscent of stage sets that go beyond the surface, touching deeper concerns…’’
1991-92: she won a scholarship to Complutense University School of Fine Arts in Madrid. She created large monumental works using organic and inorganic materials. “…Memories recreating long lost times and places rise to the surface from the depths of the subconscious”. She graduated with distinction. – Solo exhibition at the Centro Cultural Meseta de Orcasitas in Madrid.
Achilleas Kentonis studied electronic engineering and physics in the USA and worked at NASA for two years. He continued his studies in the fine arts. … He experimented with alternative ways of depicting images. In 1992 he was chosen by the cultural services to represent Cyprus at the Biennale for Young Artists of the Mediterranean countries of Europe in Valencia in the field of photography. His desire was to imprint what he cannot see but yet remembers…
Death Experience: a medical error at Nicosia Hospital almost proves fatal. But it does give a new dimension to the two artists’ relationship.
In 1993 they won a scholarship from the ?useo Internacional de Electrografia of the University of Castilla-La Mancha and were given the opportunity to make their first visual intervention. The use of new technologies in a jointly produced work, an urban intervention on the San Pablo Bridge at Cuenca in Spain. A bridge of life and death.
Interaction with the public which brought about an awakening and a sense of responsibility regarding what an artist can offer through his work. A course with a personal identity parallel to their course as artists with a Cypriot identity.
Union in life and death through art, giving shape to the most essential experiences of their existence.
1994 – a joint exhibition entitled ‘The Bridge’ in the three rooms of Famagusta Gate.
Life equals art. Art equals life. A conviction reaffirmed in practice by experience.
During that same year the two artists were selected to represent Cyprus at the Biennale for Young Artists of the Mediterranean countries of Europe in Lisbon. Maria in the field of painting with the 1992 Spanish works and Achilleas in photography with new alternative work.
In 1995 they were chosen for the 21st engraving exhibition in Lubljana Slovenia, and presented their work.
From 1990 to 1995 they worked professionally in the field of Byzantine icon painting.
1995 – The two artists felt that the European Cultural Month did not give the expected two-way benefits: the ‘importation’ of culture from abroad left no room for cultural exchanges. They took it upon themselves to bridge that cultural gap. Inspiration came unexpectedly from the restoration works on their home that took a new and decisive turn: the discovery of four Hellenistic tombs. With the aim of promoting Cypriot culture - since it has always been the two belief of the two artists that the heritage of a people belongs to the whole of humanity - while at the same time wishing to share their own personal existential agony of living in the last divided capital of Europe, they organized the international cultural event «Message in a bottle». 200 artists from 42 countries from all continents sent their own symbolic messages which were placed in the tombs like contemporary offerings. Within the framework of this happening, with the use of the state of the art technology of the time, the first net art, mail art and fax art were created in Cyprus. In addition, in collaboration with the MIDE Museum in Spain and the Carillo Gill Mueum of Modern Art in Mexico they organized the international happening entitled “Open Bridges” which was presented at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. At the same time, through simultaneous and two-way satellite links with cultural centres abroad, various performances were presented, including the Cypriot traditional dance of the glasses as a living sculpture and an allegory of the delicate balance that exists in Cyprus. This attracted international interest and coverage by CNN, Euronews, Asian News International. Once again a crossing from the personal to the social in the form of an urban intervention and socio-political art.
1996 – With the financial support of the Leventis Foundation, the Press and Information Office, the Cultural Services, the Spanish MIDE Museum and in collaboration with two Spanish artists, they created a collectible trilingual publication / box / object entitled “Message in a bottle – Fire Borders”, which contained among other things a video by Spanish artist Ricardo Estevaria created specially for the event. The publication won first prize for design object at the international Art Addiction competition in Sweden and was placed as a “time capsule” in numerous museums all over the world.
In 1997 they were chosen together with architect Antonia Theodosiou to represent Cyprus at the Biennale for Young Artists of the Mediterranean countries of Europe in Turin, in the field of architecture, and in Helsinki in 2000.
That same year they received a Europa Nostra award for their contribution to the conservation of European cultural heritage. Since then guides and specialised tourists have been visiting the space every Friday…
But to return to the visual arts… In 1995 they were chosen for the exhibition “6 Young Artists” organised by the Popular Bank at the cultural centre of Athens Municipality under the art critic Efi Andreades. Achilleas took part with his series entitled “Fissures” (Rogmes) and Maria with works created with a deliberate insistence on humble materials. With this series of works Maria was chosen to represent Cyprus at the international Biennale at Kuwait and at Rjeka in Croatia, both in 1997.
In 1997 they were also chosen to take part in the University of Theatre in Korea. Since that day they have collaborated with the Cyprus Theatre Organisation, Theatro Lexis, and other theatre companies as set and costume designers for a total of 14 plays.
1997 - Another solo exhibition at Diaspro Art Centre – “Dream traps of a distant and forgotten dream which carries an infinitesimal charge from primeval memory…” painting, micro-sculpture and installation. With these works Maria was chosen to represent Cyprus at the 20th Alexandria Biennale in 1999.
1999 –a solo exhibition entitled “Small Forgotten ferry tales” at the alternative space of Octana with works created ten years earlier.
In 2000 Maria worked with fashion designer Fotini Lamnisou to create a highly original exhibition entitled “Mutation / Metallaxis”, aimed at bringing art to the everyday landscape with the help of design. A collaboration that is still on-going.
In 1996 Achilleas won first prize in the Municipal Arts’ Centre competition “Nicosia seen through the Chronicle of Leontios Machairas” – an installation entitled “Shelters”. A poetic work in a spirit of urban intervention with socio-political ramifications.
In 1997 he was chosen among the 22 best European photographers to depict images of Tokyo. A catalogue and series of exhibitions beginning from the Metropolitan Museum of Tokyo which travelled to all the cultural capitals of Europe.
In 1998 he was chosen by Platonas Rivellis to take part in the exhibition “Cyprus: 6 photographic journeys”.
In the same year he won 3rd prize in the Arts’ Centre competition entitled “The Berlin Wall”.
When Nefeli was born, Nefelokokkygia (Cloud-Cuckoo Land) was created, a solo exhibition at Argo Gallery. A journey from traditional limestone to amethyst, where compasses are of no use and exist only to remind of clocks…
In 1999 they made their first animated film [An Egg] which was shown for the first time at the New York film festival and received an award at the Intekino ?nternational Film Festival in Korea and the Washington DC International Film Festival.
From 1996, as a special scientist at Cyprus University, Achilleas has been creating programmes linking culture with modern technology. He has organised art and technology symposia and workshops, developed initiatives and made interventions at the Council of Europe. In 1999, at his initiative and suggestion, in co-operation with Cyprus University and the Ministry of Education and Culture, he undertook the design and creation of the National Cultural Portal of Cyprus, in which all the scientific, literary and artistic data of the island will be presented on the Internet in the form of a comprehensive Cypriot cultural archive. This ambitious project was completed this year, eight years after its conception. His aim is to link the National Cultural Portal with the European Cultural Portal, which he is also designing.
In 2000 the Artos Foundation was created as a platform aimed at the creation of innovative ideas and social interventions in the areas of art and science. Restoration starts of the building purchased.
In the same year the two artists were chosen to represent Cyprus at mediaterra (organized by Fournos Art Centre) called Neo- logisms in Athens where they presented the robot “Theocles the Cyclopean”, an interactive installation which invites visitors to leave a message to their descendants 50,000 years into the future as a future act of archaeology in the present. It served as a monument to human vanity, as a driving force, as hope and as misapprehension through the code of art. All the messages were placed on a satellite data base that will orbit the earth for 50,000 years.
In 2001 they were chosen for the India Triennale with an interactive installation entitled “The West Never Forgives”. A semiotic analysis, a global critique where the deep roots of East-West relations are re-discussed through the reality of the present day.
In 2002 they were selected by Apollonia European Art Exchanges for the exhibition “Paths of Europe” Place de la Gare and Council of Europe in Strasbourg, to mark the accession of the ten new European states. Transformed into ephemeral exhibition spaces, the containers shed light on the issue of the mobility of modern art works. In 2003 the exhibition was transferred to the Museum of Modern Art of Thessaloniki. An innovative perimetric video-installation was presented.
Antonis’s arrival brought with it two solo exhibitions.
In 2001 Maria had a show entitled “Horizons: vertically” at Diatopos Art Centre. An attempt to organise chaos through the alternative logic of inner vision… a game with magnets that causes the viewer to amend the narrative part of the work through suggested choices…and …in 2002 Achilleas showed work entitled “Orientations” also at Diatopos Art Centre and at the Terriate Museum in Mytilini. An exhibition in which the game of discovery, of knowledge, of dispute as well as of the global constants of physics expressed itself visually, producing new narratives and forms in the psyche of each spectator. A symposium was held as part of the exhibition on the philosophical, literary and visual approach of science.
2002: art video “Neighbourhoods of the World” aiming at studying isolated social groups (such as the elderly and migrants) and their more substantive integration into society as a whole.
2002 fragmentary evolving stories from paradise lost…
2003: the making of the film “Horo-o-pios” (Space-dance-maker) about the intuitive relationship of people with sight problems with the environment, space and movement. Awarded by the Short Film Festivals of Cyprus and Drama and shown at the Detroit Museum of New Art in the USA.
“Foinikou”: a short film… An essay on human loneliness…
“Synaisthesia”: multimedia, video performance to poetry by Michalis Papadopoulos and in collaboration with poets from Cyprus and Greece. CyBC Little Theatre in 2003 and Vios in Athens in 2008.
6th Trienale Mondiale D’Estampes, Chamalieres, France. Engravings, selected by Opy Zouni.
2004: Hyperlinks Exhibition “20 Cypriot Artists – New Discoveries”, selected by art critic Efi Strouza, Evagoras and Katherine Lanitis Foundation.
2004 – The restoration of the ARTos Foundation premises was completed in close co-operation with the architect Antonia Theodosiou. The project received a commendation in the A. Theodosiades architectural competition. The building was officially opened in 2004 by the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos.
The ARTos Foundation was established as a legal entity on 26 October 2000 and began its activities immediately. However, work to restore and equip the building that houses it was not completed until 2004. The entire project is a private initiative with a flexible and effective form. It is a beneficial, cultural, research and non-profit organisation that contributes with flexibility both in and out of Cyprus and significantly increases the island’s cultural power through measurable results that bring multiple short- and long-term benefits.
The Foundation is housed in premises that were formerly used as bread ovens for the Ayioi Omoligites area, and this inspired the name of the Foundation, Artos meaning bread in ancient Greek. Bread, the product of the ovens, the staple food for Cypriots throughout history and at the same time ARTOS (ARTs Operating System), that takes us directly to the modern era of the apotheosis of technology – the etymology of which is “Discourse on Art (Techni and Logos) and that Art is the Bread that nourishes the soul!
The traditional 1901 architecture of the building converses with the industrial structure of 1950 that housed the bread ovens and to these was added a modern extension of 2003, thus creating an autonomous work of art, with sophisticated plasticity and rhythm. The point was to create a space that inspires and challenges creativity.
In addition, by happy chance the restoration works revealed a group of nine Hellenistic or archaic tombs. These have been restored and since then guides and specialised tourists have been visiting the space every Friday…
Thus the Foundation, with its feet placed firmly on the past, has its gaze turned steadily towards the future: inspired by ancient Art and making good use of modern Technology it serves the diachronic civilization of Cyprus. It is a contemporary centre of art and science dedicated to research and the creation of two magical worlds, filled with adventure and discovery, with journeys into knowledge, chaos and imagination. Its space – physical and spiritual – inspires modern creative artists and creative scientists, offering a forum to both and promoting them on the local and international levels, always on the basis of quality and social contribution.
From 2003 to the present day the ARTos: Foundation has organized and hosted dozens of events, lectures, exhibitions, workshops for the young and old, and a plethora of other cultural and scientific activities, with the participation of important artists, intellectuals, academics, researchers and scientists from Cyprus and abroad.
It has won and secured European and other programmes, such as «Culture 2000», «Youth», «Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus ».
As the Cultural Contact Point of the European Project “Culture 2007-2013” for two years it developed intense activities with the European Commission. Its achievements include recognition of ancient Greek as an EU language in the area of translation, simplification of the application procedures for the project and the establishment of an electronic information hub, which became the third most visited site in the whole of Europe, making Cyprus one of its most active members… In November 2007 ARTos submitted its resignation.
It represents and manages the artist exchange programme Map XXL-Pepinieres Europeennes pour Jeunes Artistes, the largest network in Europe for young artists. Since 2007 ARTos has been on the programme’s member board. It has already played host in Cyprus to scientists and artists from overseas, who have worked, created and presented their work here.
It organised the exhibition Babylon’s Shade in co-operation with the Arterra museum in Austria, as well as a series of lectures as part of Fundamenta 6 with the international organisation Fundamenta.
It took part in organising the urban intervention works of the Italian organisation Amaze Lab with the international projects Going Public, Memory Box and Atlante Medireranneo in Cyprus. In the context of this collaboration young Cypriot artists created and exhibited in Formigine in Italy.
It created the Contemporary Art Observatory of the Middle East, Balkans, Caucasus and African migrants in Europe, establishing Cyprus as the cultural communication hub between Europe and these regions and ethnicities. In particular the Modern Art Observatory of the Middle East as a purely Cypriot suggestion aroused the interest of the Council of Europe and other international organisations and was described as “the European socio-political opening to the Middle East”.
It is represented in Beirut by Gaia Heritage and in Cairo and Alexandria by Gudram Arts for Development.
It participated in the advisory team of Gaia Heritage which undertook to set up the House of Art and Culture in Beirut.
It created the Technoculture Navigator, an internet data base containing 40 categories of scientific information. The data base which is updated weekly receives more than 1.5 million hits a year, and informs society about contemporary scientific achievements.
It established an archaeology and excavation workshop for people with reduced sight, offering them an opportunity for knowledge and creative occupation.
It conducted a study, exhibition and conference entitled “Hovering between reason and irrationality” on the works of art of people with mental disorders, thus touching on a social taboo and presenting with sensitivity the problems and talents of this isolated and often neglected group of people.
It promoted and offered opportunities to young and not so young artists, scientists and people with special needs in Cyprus and abroad.
It inspired and conducted workshops for young scientists, inventors, robotics designers, archaeologists, architects, theatre directors, writers, artists and navigators…
It created the Kid’s University aimed at shaping free-thinking individuals/citizens and cultivating “education for researchers”. This university encourages and fosters the participation of children from disadvantaged social groups with a view to their expanding their intellectual horizons and enabling them to feel that they are equal members of Cypriot society.
It organised an art conference entitled “The area of criticality, the region and the critical text”, with the participation of distinguished speakers from abroad.
It organised an art conference entitled «East (re)shaping artistic expressions: bridges or walls», also with the participation of distinguished speakers from abroad.
It invited and honoured the internationally renowned Cypriot-born artist Stelarc, who visited Cyprus after many decades of absence and who presented his life’s work at ARTos.
On the occasion of world Sun day an exhibition of bioclimatic architecture by the distinguished Greek architect Alexander Tombazis, as this was shown at the Benakis Museum. It organised lectures presenting innovative ideas for the use of solar energy and island-wide races for solar-powered cars.
It developed a powerful initiative for the establishment of the Network of Small European States with meetings at San Marino, Andorra and Lichtenstein.
It runs the design ?R? shop where Cypriot creative artists display their wares. Special construction by architect Sotos Lamnisos.
It operates an electromagnetic radiation research centre that investigates how this interacts with human health, offering advice and solutions.
It established and runs the Research Network and Centre for the design of Strategy and Implementation on issues related to digital culture and undertook projects such as the digital archive of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation.
It activated an Incubator for Innovative Ideas, which was used by a number of agencies, organisations, individuals and researchers from Cyprus and elsewhere.
It works with the international organisation Caravanes /le dix mots within the framework of francophonie.
In 2007 ARTos was presented at the May Fair at London’s Tate Modern as a contemporary cultural organisation which promotes the culture of its country while at the same time developing powerful initiatives which it implements to the benefit of modern European civilisation.
It was invited by the organisers of Art Athina 2007 and appeared at the Helexpo as an autonomous work of social sculpture.
It was invited by Amaze Lab and IUVA University of Venice to be part of the 2007 Venice Biennale as an arts centre with social, scientific and cultural interventions in Europe.
The existence and on-going creative and productive activity of the foundation is due in no small measure to the generous contribution of capital, time and energy on the part of its inspirers.
Establishment of ResArt/ a hostel of culture, unique in its kind. An art hotel that is capable of offering hospitality to cultural tourism. Where artists can coexist side by side with scientists, businessmen, politicians, but above all with people who have never stopped dreaming. Two traditional buildings were joined together and to them was added a modern wing. The restoration was done in close co-operation with the architect Iraklis Papachristou with respect for tradition. A meeting of the old with the new, a meeting of art, design and architecture in the name of hospitality. It has 5 rooms –the same as the 5 senses…It introduces a new meaning to the notion of hospitality. A number of activities take place in its own multi-use space.
In 2008 it opened a branch (microARTos) in the centre of Madrid. A space aspiring to play a role in hosting culture.
In 2008 restoration work began on a space to host artists in Maroni which aims at attracting the interest of Cypriot and foreign artists as a place to produce work. In conjunction with the architect Maria Charalambidou.
Personal creative work continues on all fronts, despite the difficult circumstances, as an inner need
In 2005 they created the short film “A Stroll” that was shown at international festivals like Clemont Ferre and the Mostra Sesc De Artes Mediterraneon – in Sao Paolo, Brazil and received the experimental film and animation award at the 4th festival of Cypriot short films and documentaries in 2007.
Participation at the Accidental Meetings Exhibition at the Municipal Arts Centre with the interactive poetic work “Skipping Rope”…
Since 2006 Maria has represented Cyprus in the women video-artists’ group FemmeLink, which produces a video-art work every year under a joint title and presents it at festivals all over the world.
In 2006 a solo exhibition entitled «Retales – light as a feather and free as the wind», at the ARTos Foundation and the Microtaz Art Centre in Madrid. Hanging paintings/ banners and installation. Presented at the ARTENAVAS exhibition at Las Navas de Marces in Spain, at «Meeting Europe – Memory» in Strasbourg and in 2007 at the Walloon Contemporary Art Centre in Liege in Belgium. Challenge after challenge. The personal wager this time was to create works as a painter but without the use of paint and brushes.
Since 2006 they have taken part in visual poetry exhibitions in Patras 2006, Berlin 2007, and Constantinople 2008.
Winners of a competition for the creation of works of contemporary sculpture for the Olympic Building and the park of the Olympic Committee in Nicosia, where the works were placed.
2007 NEXUS* project, chosen and funded by Madrid abierto. Implemented with an inter-disciplinary group of 5 artists (nexus art group) at the METRO. The entire work was experienced solely on the mobile phones of thousands of passers-by. A proposal that explored new forms of expression, exhibition and dissemination of the artistic message. Presented at ?rco ‘07 and the Venice Biennale.
2007: Solo exhibition by Achilleas at Obra Social Fundacion la Caixa Supra/Ficcions in Spain. A work dealing with modern warfare as pop culture through the experience of the video game. Its title is «game not over», and it compares the idea of the ancient agora with the marketplace of globalisation through the institutions of democracy.
Solo exhibition by Maria at Tournefeuille in France, with video-installations entitled Carte Blanche as part of Saison Video.
2008: Invitation and creation of a work in situ at Lichtenstein. A work strongly criticising the society of the Principality entitled “who owns the roots”
In 2008 also,< Genny G, I want to change the sky>, a short film as part of Femlink.
Preparation/ filming for their latest short film entitled “Once upon a time a dress…” which has been approved and funded by the advisory film committee.
Preparation for participation at the London Festival of architecture in collaboration with the architect Iraklis Papachristou.
Invitation/ preparation to take part in the 1st Mediterranean Symposium of Environmental Art in Crete.