Far off Lands is an audio-visual installation in three parts. It is a meditative journey across the childhood memories and dreams of three bi-communal generations.
Presented at the Paphos Municipal Gallery.
OPENING CEREMONY 29th January, 2017 at 12 a.m.
Length of Exhibition 28th JAN – 28th of Februay 2017
The audio-visual installation “Far Off Lands” is based on the performance A FAR OFF LAND, 2016, which focused on the distant land of childhood and the memories of the body, as well as on the “distant land” of the shared hopes and dreams for the future. The project was inspired by the work of the renowned Cypriot poet Taner Baybars (Plucked in a Far Off Land), as well as the research the team had conducted on childhood before and after 1974. Three generations of Cypriots (from both sides of the Buffer Zone) got together to share their experiences as a part of the installation. The installation was devoted to the two communities, as well as to all the people living in a divided society. The project invited visitors to experience the installation as a voyage through three spaces and three parts respectively and write down their own experience with a wish for the future.
The project took part on February 2017, implemented by the team Echo Arts, was designed and created by Ariana Economou, Gurgenc Korkmazel, Dorinda Hulton and Peter Hulton. The music was composed by Larkos Larkou.
Production: ECHO ARTS
Three generations of Cypriots – from both sides of the buffer zone – have come together to share their own memories as well as the creation of the installation.
The art work is dedicated to the communities they represent, as well as to all the other peoples and cultures beyond the shores of Cyprus, who live within divided societies.
The Elders:
Charalambos Charalambous, Ilker Kaptanoglu, Gunay Keçeci, Antonia Lyra,
The Young Adults
Ezgin Akpinar, Sevim Akpinar, Gewrgia Andreou, Harry Koushos,
The Children
Diley Cevat, Alexandra Geoghiou, Rosa Jamieson, Alexa Michael, Demetrius Spyrou, Anna Theodorou, Michael Varnavas, Nicos Varnavas, Nil Turer,
The visitor is invited to experience the installation as an immersive journey through three spaces, and in three parts; and, also - at the end of the journey - to record a memory themselves, and make a wish for the future, should they wish to do so.
Part 1
The far-off land of childhood memory before 1974
Part 2
The far-off land of childhood memory after 1974
Part 3
The far-off land of dreams and wishes for the future
(Part 1 begins each half hour. It lasts 20 minutes)
(Part 2 begins each half hour. It lasts 20 minutes)
(Part 3 is on a continuous loop. It lasts under ten minutes)
Creative Team
Arianna Economou (co-director and choreographer)
Dorinda Hulton, (co-director, concept designer and writer)
Peter Hulton (video artist and documenter)
Gurgenc Korkmazel (consultant and reader of Taner Baybar’s manuscript)
Larkos Larkou (composer) and Children’s Choir ‘Epilogi’ with Aggelina Nikolaidou.
The audio-scores for all three parts of the installation are primarily in English with epigrammatic translations into Greek and Turkish integrated into the video stream.
The audio-video scores for all three parts of the installation include documentation of ‘micro-performances’ which took place in 2016 on either side of the Buffer Zone in Nicosia, Cyprus, to whoever might be passing by.