larnaca biennale — Larnaca Biennale will showcase a wealth of artistic lines and traces as it prepares for its fourth edition, set to commence in less than a week. Running from October 15 to November 28, the event promises a vibrant cultural programme spanning six-and-a-half weeks, featuring exhibitions, installations, performances, and workshops that will transform the city into a cultural hub.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Larnaca biennale: Curator’s Vision Comes to Life
With final preparations underway, curator Sana López Abellán expressed excitement about the unfolding of the Biennale, stating, “I am excited to witness how the Biennale unfolds across its venues, weaving together a collective story that belongs to both the artists and the community.” The anticipation is palpable as artists from around the globe arrive to install their works, creating an environment where lines and traces become tangible.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Exhibition Venues Spread Across Larnaca
The entire Larnaca district will feature selected artworks displayed across 13 indoor and outdoor locations, including notable sites such as the Larnaca Municipal Art Gallery, Pierides Museum, and Larnaca Medieval Castle. The opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday, marking the beginning of an engaging cultural experience. Additional exhibitions will be hosted at the Kallinikeio Municipal Museum in Athienou and the Costas Argyrou Museum in Mazotos.
Key Installations and Performances
Among the highlights of the main exhibition are three installation-performances and participatory events. Togetherness – Resonances of Expression and 22 Stops are set to take place on Thursday, while Unspoken Messages will invite public participation at Zouhouri Square, encouraging attendees to engage with the artwork actively.
Workshops Encouraging Community Engagement
The Biennale also features an array of workshops aimed at fostering creativity and community connections. The first workshop, The.Curious.Curly’s Cyanotype Tales, will occur on October 17 and November 1, guiding participants through journaling exercises and cyanotype-making. Participants are encouraged to bring a personal photograph from their youth, sharing stories while creating their original cyanotype print.
Exploring Identity Through Art
On October 18, the Canada-based duo Anana Rydvald and Zach Fraser will present The Lines and Traces of Identity, a theatrical workshop that utilises emotive masked play to explore personal and collective identity. This workshop exemplifies the Biennale’s focus on integrating artistic practice with meaningful dialogues.
Bicommunal Art Project Fostering Unity
The Weaving Unity project on October 25 aims to bring together Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots through a symbolic weaving workshop, culminating in an open artistic celebration on October 26, curated by interdisciplinary designer Konstantinos Charilaou.
Engaging Performance Art Offerings
Performance art will also play a significant role in the Biennale, starting with the contemporary dance performance The Thread by the Aphelion Dance Company on October 18. This piece reinterprets the myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur, exploring themes of identity and transformation through movement and narrative.
Interactive Experiences for Audiences
The Ichnilat(r)is performance, scheduled for October 19, 25, and November 1, 2, 8, and 9, invites audiences to participate in a unique experience that allows them to choose their role—whether to act or observe—creating a dynamic interaction with the performance.
Celebrating Love and Heartache
Anana Rydvald and Zach Fraser will also present their non-verbal mime performance, The Sighlence of Sky, on October 23 and 24. This tender performance offers an ode to love and heartache, navigating themes of disability and neurodivergence through familial relationships.
Festivals, Films, and Educational Programmes
The Biennale will also feature the Artist Quarter Piale Pasha Festival, offering guided tours of the artists’ quarter alongside performances and street food from October 18-19. Moreover, the Larnaka Cinema Society will present a selection of films across three evenings on November 10, 17, and 24.
Creative Workshops for Young Artists
In the educational programme The Art of Together, actress and theatre facilitator Theodora Andreou will run six creative workshops for children, culminating in a collective art installation at the Municipal Market of Larnaca on October 18, 25, and November 1, 8, 15.
Open Art Schools Event
The Open Art Schools event on November 2 will showcase the creative works of students from six art schools across Larnaca, providing families with the opportunity to explore the art world through the eyes of children.
Experiential Events Highlighting Local Culture
Curator Abellán will lead a guided Curator’s Walk on October 17, inviting participants to experience Larnaca’s streets and shoreline anew, while Zeno Philosophical Swim on October 22 and 26 connects philosophy with water and everyday activities through a swimming symposium and film screening.
Tribute to Cypriot Artist Stass Paraskos
A performance walk, Tracing Stass, will honour the iconic Cypriot artist and educator on October 25 and November 1. Artists Emilios Koutsoftides and Simon Pruciak will guide participants through Stass’ childhood surroundings, reflecting on the landscapes that inspired his work.
Closing Celebrations and Community Involvement
The Biennale will conclude with a live music performance on November 21, featuring the three-piece band consisting of Nikos Bardis, Antonis Nomikos, and Giorgos Laggouretos. They will present a unique project inspired by beloved Greek songs, creating an improvisational soundscape that embodies the spirit of the Biennale.
Finally, the Traces of Our Heritage exhibition and award ceremony on November 27 will showcase work from students and community members, celebrating local culture, history, and traditions through designed products.
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