Juan D. Latorre
The Embassy of Cyprus invited last Tuesday to the opening of the photo exhibition ‘She-Cyprus in Feminine’, at the Sala de Columnas of the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, organised in cooperation with the Cypriot Press and Information Office.
In this exhibition, organised on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the first exchange of Ambassadors between the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Spain, the photographer looks at more than ten sculptural representations of goddesses, divinities and female statuettes and figurines from the collections of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, which are on display at the Cyprus Museum in Lefkosia and the Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District.
The Cypriot ambassador, Helena Mina, expressed her gratitude for the presence at the event of the Ministers of the Interior of Spain and Cyprus, Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Konstantinos Ioannou, respectively, the director of the Press and Information Office of the Mediterranean country, Aliki Stylianou, and the president of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, Juan Miguel Hernández León.
The Cypriot ambassador described the 55th anniversary of the first exchange of ambassadors between Cyprus and Spain as “a milestone in our bilateral relations”. “The exhibition that we inaugurate today marks the end of a series of cultural events that we have organised throughout the year to celebrate this important moment in our diplomatic relations, as well as, of course, to bring our respective countries, united with strong ties since ancient times, although at the antipodes of the Mediterranean, even closer together”.
Referring specifically to the exhibition being presented, Helena Mina pointed out that this “exhibition captures feminine beauty in its sculptural representation and pays homage to the women of Cyprus and to those who venerated, worshipped and immortalised their form, capturing it in stone and terracotta, within the context of the country’s history and culture”.
To conclude her speech, the ambassador invited the audience to taste the excellent Comandaría wine, “a sweet Cypriot wine, made from two varieties of indigenous grapes, which can boast of being the oldest wine still in production” (dating back to 800 years BC).
For his part, the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, pointed out “how comforting it is to look back and see the evolution of our civilisation, the significant impact of Greek-Latin culture on our values, on our way of understanding life and work. The intelligent gaze of photography shows us a rich and powerful culture like yours, like the Cypriot one, in which women have been and continue to be the protagonists”.
Grande-Marlaska described the choice of this exhibition as a “wise decision” as the final activity to celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations. “The serene beauty, he continued, of pieces carved centuries ago takes on new life through the photographic approach that brings us closer to a different vision of the figure, sometimes more enigmatic and mysterious. Spain and Cyprus share a rich cultural heritage over the centuries, which has spread throughout the Mediterranean, and obviously this culture is always a symbol of progress, advancement and values.
“Undoubtedly,” concluded the Spanish Minister, “the ultimate reflection of the progress of our civilisations is the progress achieved in terms of equality between men and women, that is, in values. There is still a long way to go, but the path has been mapped out and there is no turning back”.
Cypriot Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said that this exhibition “is indeed a hymn to women and femininity; to their strength, power and resilience. Throughout history, the role of women in society has evolved in many ways, but they have always been vital to the fabric of society. They have successfully held influential positions in religious practices, have been active in economic activities and have had respected roles within their families. It is therefore not surprising that among the artistic treasures left as a rich legacy of the ancient civilisations of Cyprus, statues of women, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, occupy a special place and, as such, serve as a bridge between our past and our present”.
The Cypriot Minister concluded his remarks by stating that “I would be remiss if I did not mention, at the opening of this exhibition, that women’s rights and gender equality are at the forefront of the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Recognising the need for gender mainstreaming in public policies, we are currently drafting a new national strategy, in all public policies, including in the field of culture and the arts”.
The inauguration of the exhibition Ella-Cyprus en Femenino was attended by the ambassadors of Lebanon, Serbia, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Portugal and Monaco, among other personalities.
