European Cultural Foundation

Report by Achilleas Kentonis, artist
Director of Artos Foundation, Nicosia Cyprus (www.artosfoundation.org)

What are the daily issues one is confronted with?
I would focus on two key words on this question: daily and confronted. Human nature deals with these two “codes” in an opposite way. “Western” people as part of a social group always try to keep on living and face the monster of every day life. Career, financials, love affairs, family, self esteem, health, fears are just a few of the little big things that are on the chess board and expect our next move. As a reaction to this stress full reality people look for a secure (usually semi virtual environment) pathway while searching for optimistic mechanisms like entertainment, religion, philosophical platforms etc. There is always a hidden territory at close range to each member of our societies. It is real and each one of us gives the size and volume to this according to his needs and personality. The confrontation is always included in each territory one way or another. The “daily” element minimizes it as long as it does not put the person at a high risk. These procedures are the most important elements that should one investigate nowadays. Geopolitical confrontations are there creating new metaphors for disorientation. Is much more visible and always is in the hands of people that are not directly influenced by that. What links though both worlds is the idea of home. Home is a symbol of daily life and possible security of confrontation of any kind. It is a territory itself. Whatever happens inside you keep it inside and whatever what happens outside you keep it outside.

What are the misunderstandings, frustrations, challenges one is confronted with?
Misunderstandings in Cyprus: different interpolation of basic terms due to absence of serious cooperation with the occupied areas in Cyprus. Of course the good will and good human relations were strong and all problems were overcame in a natural way. Misunderstandings in Italy: different interpolation of time. Frustration: none. Challenges: confrontation with yourself and with the other. This project smoothed a little the edges between yourself and the other.

What is the mutual gain from the cooperation process?
Of course we are not naive to believe that cooperation on artistic projects can really solve political problems. Artists care for art and politicians for power. Artists go into an adventure for additional experience and usually there to point out questions in society, aesthetics and hidden emotions. In that sense the cooperation process was mutually beneficial with all partners. On the other hand the borders (physical and mental) are still there. Injustice and the power of the strong did not change through the history of mankind. But if not the artists and the intellectuals do not live the utopia who will. After all, hope dies last.

What are the effects of the cooperation on a personal experience level?
The strongest effect that someone could feel out of this is the fact that in this project there is a Mediterranean common denominator. It is a fantastic opportunity to see the sea around us, as a bridge from where good and bad things could happen. We first feel Mediterranean and then Europeans. It is not the understanding between us that matters but the natural code that is fluxing in between. That breeze creates another positive “separation” territory between northern Europeans and southern Mediterraneans. Even though art is not there to clear out things like that effect influenced I believe all of us and that is the success side of the project.

What can we learn from this?
I will have to reply to this question as an artist. It is not about learning but about living. Communication is there, new experience is developing, new ideas for further cooperation are being generated and of course there is now the desire to expand this issue even further and open up to a broader network.

Eleftheria and Saray Square (South and North Ciprus), Nicosia 2006