28
29
as Cornelius Van Bruyn, Henry White, Keith
Hendersson and Gladys Paty to name a few;
but also a small collection of Cyprus artists,
such as Adamantios Diamantis and Ismet Vehit
Güney, who created the Cyprus Flag.
These works on Cyprus depict sociological and
historical aspects of the island and its people. As
the Centre asserts, visitors can understand and
appreciate the rapport of various communities
of the island through the scenes of everyday
life, street scenes and peopled interiors.
Representations of monuments, villages
and landscapes enable the viewer to follow
the architectural development of towns and
villages while at the same time, changes in
the countryside and the transition from the
traditional to the modern also become apparent.
The
Costumes Collection
comprises 500 pieces
of costumes, clothes, shoes, hats, bed linen,
curtains and embroidery, again spanning three
centuries, and concentrates on the influence of
the East and West on the development of local
Cypriot dress.
The many original costumes displayed in
representations and in specially adapted
drawers range from clothing worn by High
Commissioners and Consuls; from pashas to
wedding dresses, furs and christening robes.
The
Colonial Collection
includes Government
House (1878-1960) memorabilia such as
authentic guest books, dinner services and
furniture, with smaller items such as cigarette
boxes, travel labels, souvenirs and maps, which
give a common representation of the Cyprus
realm at the time.
The
Research Collection
includes more than
5,000 books on art and travel diaries and
travelogues to Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the
Levant. Rare and old books and a large number
of modern books, particularly reference books,
are made available to scholars and researchers.
Archival material on many historical subjects is
also made available through an online archive
with newspapers (1878-1960), manuscripts and
information on artists as well as photographs
and films from 1878-1960.
Smaller collections which are displayed on the
walls of corridors leading to the various floors
include posters of Cyprus, political cartoons,
botanical illustrations and an important
collection of paintings of the last queen of
Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro.
At the old Inn
Just like the collection, the history of the
building that houses the Centre follows a
significant part of the island’s recent history.
Known back in the day as the Ermou Street Inn,
it was converted into a Flourmill in the 1950s,
remaining in operation until the 1990s.
Architects Andreas and Zoe Lordos are
responsible for turning the building into
a research and exhibition centre, with the
financial support of the Costas and Rita Severis
Foundation, as well as the USAID and EEA
Grants Norway. Long before the Centre was
renovated, the Foundation began touring Cyprus
to become acquainted with its history, both in the
southern and northern parts of the island.
The Centre will continue to offer new artistic
events and is expected to host a number of
periodical exhibitions by Cypriot as well as
foreign artists, in addition to musical, cookery,
dance and cinematic events, which the Centre’s
organisers say would be mostly bi-communal.
Centre of Visual Arts and Research, 285 Ermou
Street, 1017 Nicosia. Tel: 22 300 999. Web:
Opening hours Monday to Saturday 9.30am to
4.30pm. The Centre is closed on Sundays.
Keith Henderson (1883-1982) Famagusta ca 1928 Oil on Board 64 x 21 cm
Luigi Mayer (1755-1803) Antique Fragments at Limisso, 1803 engraving 24 x 32 cm
