Critical Archaeologies Workshop _ Booklet

CRITICAL ARCHAEOLOGIES

PROGRAM

SUSPENDED SPACES WORKSHOP 2011- CRITICAL ARCHAEOLOGIES - BOOKLET #1

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Nicosia is the city symbolizing Cyprus’ division and the city associated with the efforts to overcome it: through political meetings and negotiations; the creation of a ‘unified’ Master Plan for the city; the opening of the main pedestrian street called Ledras, and other crossing points that connect the divided parts. Beyond the obvious division of the city centre, migration has also shaped the city into a place where different cultures and people live and meet. Nicosia is eventually a place where new projects and futures are launched.

“Critical Archaeologies” workshop, in the context of Suspended Spaces project, traces the ‘suspended condition’ of the city through a series of visits and walks in the centre of Nicosia and the UN-controlled area of the dividing zone. These visits take the form of cuts/sections inside the city’s past and present, adopting the approach of critical archaeology that goes beyond the interpretation and aestheticization of the past, into a speculation of the future.

In order to resist the underlying danger of aestheticizing post-conflict places, the workshop insists in a positive reading of ‘suspended spaces’. In this manner the suspended condition, is understood as a case of ‘fertile delay’ in order to imagine a future based on multiplicity, complexity and openness, rendering Nicosia and Cyprus an experimental ground for politics, art and architecture.

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Critical Archaeologies #1 - Modern Ruin

The modernist house of the Cypriot architect Polyvios Michaelides (1907-1960) constructed in 1960, is the workshop’s first destination. Walking along the UN military paths inside the Buffer zone; the house -a case of modern ruin- will become a goal and a means to enter the suspended condition of Nicosia’s Dead Zone. The experience of an abandoned domestic space together with a short exhibition of the house’s original plans and photographs will also provide the first scene to begin contemplating on archaeology of modernism in Cyprus.

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Critical Archaeologies #2 - A Temporary Occupation

The workshop’s second destination is the Ledra Palace Hotel, built in 1950s, which lies on the main crossing point of the UN buffer zone. Since 1974 it has become an emblematic case of temporary occupation, that transformed it from a luxury hotel - symbol of tourist development and a meeting space for the local society in the 60s and 70s, into the headquarters of UNFICYP and residence for UN military personnel as well as a meeting ground for Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, political negotiations, bi communal talks and discussions. The visit inside the reused building and its facilities will turn into an exploration of the current form of this particular suspended space.

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Critical Archaeologies #3 - A Space on Hold

The workshop’s third destination - a case of suspended space par excellence- is the site of the old Airport of Nicosia, which was built in the 1950s. After 1960s independence the Airport became the main gate to the world, for the newly found state. Today, as another case of ruined and neglected site lying in the UN controlled area, the Airport is loaded with memory and it can be seen as a sign of unfulfilled utopian visions of 1960-70s internationalism, nation building and modernization. In this context, it has been the focus of recent and older theoretical researches and documentation projects which are also discussing its future role. Walking around its vast open spaces and next to the modernist buildings and structures, the visit will highlight the airport’s ‘openness’ in order to rethink the current and future role of this and other suspended spaces inside the city.

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Critical Archaeologies #4 - Multiple Presents

Besides the obvious division of the city that has shaped its identity in the last decades, Nicosia centre has also been the site of intense migration. In the background of the city’s multicultural past current inhabitants share multiple but unstable presents. In search of Nicosia’s realities, the workshop will visit KISA the Action and the Migration and Refugee Centre. KISA is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), established in 1998, as a result of the concern about the conditions of entry, stay and employment of migrants, the lack of a comprehensive migration policy and the ever-growing incidents of xenophobia, discrimination and racism in Cyprus.

Critical Archaeologies #5 - Walks along the Green Line

Nicosia’s Green Line was established after the first inter communal troubles in 1963. As the political negotiations continue the search for a permanent solution of what has come to be known as the Cypriot problem; the Green Line, lies in the heart of the city in a suspended state: visible and invisible, forgotten and monumentalized. The workshop will organize two mirror walks along the two sides of the Green Line following the most apparent cut/section of Nicosia’s everyday life and recent past.

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Critical Archaeologies #6 - Suspended Spaces project closure

During the days of the workshop, Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre (NIMAC), in the centre of Nicosia, will be the main meting point and working place for the organizers and the participants.In the last day the centre will be hosting the closing event of the workshop: Invited lectures along the workshop theme, screenings on 1970s Famagusta and an open discussion between the participants will take place, zcelebrate the closure of Suspended Spaces Project.

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PROGRAM:

DAY 1 - 7/4/2011

0930-1000 Meet at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, Associated

with the Pierides Foundation (NIMAC)

Welcome: Yiannis Toumazis Workshop Briefing: Petros Phokaides

1000-1030 Walk along the Green Line 1 1030-1145 UN meeting point for Polys Michaelides House. (next to

British High Commission) Visit Polys Michaelides House in the Buffer Zone. Short Exhibition of original plans and drawings of the house.

1145-1215 Walk to Ledra Palace Hotel 1215-1300 Short tour inside Ledra Palace Hotel

1. UNFICYP History - Short Video (10min) and short Briefing by UN officials2. PRESENTATION IN SITU: Petros Phokaides: “Archaeology of Modernism”

1300-1430 Lunch at Chateau Status Restaurant (Opposite Ledra Palace Hotel)

1500-1800 Walk along the Green Line - 2 2030-2200 Dinner at Aigaion Restaurant

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DAY 2 - 8/4/2011

1000-1030 Visit the Old Nicosia Airport by Bus

(Departure from CENTRUM Hotel at 9:45)

1030-1200 UN Briefing and Tour in old Nicosia Airport PRESENTATION IN SITU: Pavlina Paraskevaidou: “Uncovered”

1200-1230 Return by bus to city centre1145-1215 Walk to Ledra Palace Hotel 1430-1600 VISIT KISA (Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism) and

Migrant and Refugee Centre 1600-1630 Walk from KISA to NIMAC 1630-1700 Coffee at NIMAC

1700-1830 INVITED LECTURE: Despo Pilides“The history of Nicosia through archaeological discoveries”

LECTURE: Elizabeth Hoak-Doering “The Acoustics of Still Photography”LECTURE: Yiannis Toumazis“Pride and Prejudice, Photography and Memory in Cyprus”

1830-1900 FAMAGUSTA SCREENINGS: Video - 20 min(1972 Documentary on Famagusta)

1900-1930 SUSPENDED SPACES CLOSURECoordination: Sophia Avntoniadou

1930-2000 Visit “Cyprus in Venice” Exhibition at NIMAC

2000-2200 Dinner at Palia Ilektriki Restaurant at NIMAC

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Contacts:Yiannis ToumazisMob: +35799639099Email: [email protected]

Petros PhokaidesMob: +35799202722Email: [email protected]

Sophia AntoniadouMob: +306974146461Email: [email protected]

Marika IoannouMob: +35799488569Email: [email protected]

Constantinos PhiliotisMob: +35799662519Email: [email protected]

Addresses:Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre in Association with Pierides Foundation (NIMAC) Palia Electriki, 19 Palias Ilektrikis Street, NicosiaTel: +357 22797400

KISA (Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism) 48 Arsenoes Street, Nicosia 1010, Nicosia Centre.Tel: +357 22878181

“Chateau Status” Restaurant12, Marcou Drakou str. (opposite Ledra Palace Hotel), Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 77771167

“Shiantris” Restaurant 38 Pericleous Str., Nicosia Palia Lefkosia Tel: +357 22671549

“Aigaion” Restaurant40 Ektoros Street, Nicosia, CyprusTel: +357 22433297

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With the support of

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

NICOSIA MUNICIPAL ARTSCENTRE ASSOCIATED

WITH

Organised by

“Critical Archaeologies” is a workshop organized in the context of Suspended Spaces project, which is implemented within Culture 2007-13 European framework program of the European Commission. The project leader is the Pierides Foundation, based in Nicosia and the other project partners are the Foundation of Hellenic World in Greece, the University of Amiens in France and the Tammi Zemmit in Malta. The 2-day workshop is the final action of the Suspended Spaces project and is taking place on 7-8th of April in Nicosia.

PRESENTATIONIN SITU

House of Polys Michaelides

and Ledra Palace Hotel

ARCHAEOLOGY OF MODERNISMPETROS PHOKAIDES


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Polys Michaelides in his house, c.1960image: courtesy of Stavros Stavrou

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Polys Michaelides’ House as it was documented during a visit in 2007Photos: author

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6Front elevation of the House, original drawing, Nicosia Municipality Archive

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8Ground floor plan, original drawing, Nicosia Municipality Archive

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10Second floor plan, original drawing, Nicosia Municipality Archive

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12image: courtesy of Stavros Stavrou

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Polys Michaelides in Paris c.1931image courtesy of Melita Mpena

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Polyvios Μ. Michaelides (1907-60):

Polyvios Michaelides was born in 17/8/1907, in Nicosia. His parents, Menelaos G. Michaelides and Maria-Dolores V. Fenech (from Malta) had four more children: George, Maroula, Dinos and Yiannos. Polyvios stud-ied at the Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia (1919-25) and entered the School of Architecture of National Technical University of Athens in 1926. He graduated in 1930 and in 1931 he traveled to Paris where he wokred for Le Corbusier for two years.Upon his return to Athens he collaborated with Th.Valentis for three years. From 1935, Polys formed together with his brother Giorgos (civil engineer) the Technical Office: Michaelides Bros and while being in Athens he desiged public buildings in Cyprus. He lived in Athens until the end of Second World War, and moved permanently to Cyprus where he continued working mostly with private clients. Between 1955-59 Polys and Giorgos Michaelides, worked in Lagos, Nigeria where they designed among a Hotel Complex for Leventis Company. After the Nigerian independence they returned to Cyprus designing mainly corporate office buidlings. In the end of 1950s Polys designed and constructed his own residence, next to the one of his brother Giorgos. Polys Michaelides had a significant role in the introduction of Modernism both in Greece and Cyprus. He died on 20/2/1960.

16Ledra Palace Hotel, 4th floor extension, planNicosia Municipality Archive

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18Ledra Palace Hotel, 4th floor extension, elevation drawingNicosia Municipality Archive

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20Ledra Palace Hotel, 5th floor extension, elevation drawingNicosia Municipality Archive

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22Ledra Palace Hotel, pools and recreation facilities, Nicosia Municipality Archive

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With the support of

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

NICOSIA MUNICIPAL ARTSCENTRE ASSOCIATED WITHTHE PIERIDES FOUNDATION

Organised by


PRESENTATION IN SITU

UNCOVEREDPAVLINA PARASKEVAIDOU


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With the support of

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS


Organised by


LECTURE

Pride and Prejudice, Photography and Memory

in Cyprus

YIANNIS TOUMAZIS


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This lecture examines the representation of the recent his-tory of Cyprus at the Istanbul Military Museum, Turkey and the Athens War Museum, Greece, the two countries sym-bolizing the motherlands for the Turkish- and Greek- Cyp-riots respectively. More specifically, it critically assesses a number of individual exhibits in both museums, as well as the more general museological approach operating as stimulator and safeguard of nationalistic attitudes. Is-sues related to museums and photography, as carriers of memory, trauma and history, as well as the public display of death, are also discussed. The paper concentrates on specific examples of museum displays, attempting to ana-lyze their historical, political and psychosocial implications, including notions of memory, individual and national nar-ratives, and collective consciousness. The analysis draws on theories of representation and the power of the image, placed within the specific sociopolitical context of Cyprus.

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With the support of

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS


Organised by


LECTURE

The Acoustics of Still Photography

ELizAbETh hoAk-DoERing


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This paper was inspired in 1997 when Ka. Panayiota Pav-lou Solomi drove a tractor into the barbed wire of the UN Buffer Zone. She was dressed in traditional black mourning attire her sides of her tractor were covered with black and white photographs of her relatives who have been missing from Komi Kepir since the Turkish Army invasion of 1974. The back of her blue tractor bore a sign reading, “let’s go plant our fields”. This paper describes a type of formal pro-test that she, and other women Relatives of Cypriot Miss-ing Persons have participated in. It describes a visual motif , the photographic Pietà, which includes tropes of disap-pearance that become instrumental in creating meaning for the Cypriot cause of the Missing Persons. The paper outlines ways to talk about the acoustics of still photogra-phy, beginning with a discussion of sound, proceeding to images, and concluding with the ways these media inter-twine on the subject of women Relatives of Missing Persons.

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photo credit: William Harvey Doering, Baker’s Jubilee Philadelphia PA USA (1898). Cour-tesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia

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photo credit: Radomir Cvetic / author

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photo credit: author

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Road block at Ledra Palace Hotel (late 1970’s)photo credit: Andreas Manolis

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Road block at Ledra Palace Hotel (late 1970’s)photo credit: Andreas Manolis

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(details) Ledra Palace Roadblock. Observation post by police barracks late 1970’s photo credit: Andreas Manolis

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Ledra Palace Roadblock, observation post by police barrack late 1970’sphoto credit: Andreas Manolis

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By the roadblock at Ledras Street in 2001 - 2002. Night demonstration by the Green Line military observation post.

photo credit: Andreas Manolis

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27 August 2007 funeral of a man in the catalogue of Missing Persons whose mortal remains were returned.


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published by the Committee of Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons (obtained by the author in 2001, document un-dated)

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Demonstration by relatives and supporters next to Ledra Palace. July 12th 2002 photo credit: Andreas Manolis

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With the support of

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS


Organised by


Documents

Critical Archaeologies Workshop _ Booklet