Basic HTML Version
24
W
ithin the framework of the Cyprus Presi-
dency of the Council of the European Un-
ion, the ARTos Foundation organised the exhibi-
tion “Does Europe exist?” from 1 November until
15 November. The exhibition posed a number of
questions, among them: does Europe as an entity
exist within its “geographical” space?
How do we see Europe through the media? The
complexity of problems and the hazards of our
age should inspire us to re-evaluate the situation.
Culture, as effected by the citizens who produce or
consume it, should pursue a renaissance and other
anthropocentric approaches. Above all, it should
inspire social examination, self-awareness and a
forthright response to the passivity that pervades
our society. We must seek reconciliation with our
history and coexistence with our environment,
which means multiculturalism is our only path –
we must stop reproducing the Coliseum on our flat
screens.
“Does Europe Exist?” was a call for greater Eu-
ropean self-awareness and an outline of the chal-
lenges to this cultural and social evolution. The
exhibition directed some criticism toward the
blazingMiddle East and presented new reflections
on Cyprus, a small island, but an important one,
Europe’s outpost in the south-eastern Mediterra-
nean. Art no longer concerns us as production or
as a system but as a raison d’être and a voice that
must position itself as substantive. “Does Europe
exist?” included a roundtable discussion, “Citizen
Middle East,” and the exhibition, “Stitching the
Buffer Zone 1: Territories are but fear of space.”
“Citizen Middle East”
A May 2008 article by Barry Gewen in
The New
York Times
Arts &Culture Blog, “Does Europe ex-
ist?”, asked whether or not Turkey should become
a member of the European Union. Gewen suggest-
ed that Europe should examine the economic con-
sequences, as well as the cultural effect it would
have on a continent that seemed ill-prepared for
religious and socio-anthropological diversity.
This train of thought brings us to another ques-
tion: What cultures are there within Europe, and
to what extent are national identities inclusive of
diversity? We must examine the role of the Euro-
pean in comparison to the national citizen who, on
migrating to Europe, brings his or her own cultural
values but also adopts new values. This creates a
new concept of “cultural change”. Europe shelters
a large number of migrant and displaced people,
particularly from Arab countries, people who are
still dealing with the results of theArab Spring.
“Citizen Middle East” was a group exhibition
and roundtable discussion curated by Aida Eltorie
from Egypt. The roundtable speakers discussed
matters related to the local environment and to the
migration of first and second generations: their in-
“Does Europe Exist?”
Exhibition and Roundtable Discussion
Sponsored by the ARTos Foundation