The Department of Fine Arts, of the School of Fine and Applied Arts of the Cyprus University of Technology, invites you to a series of lectures, as part of the Master's Program in History and Theory of Art.
All speeches are given in the Greek language and are open to the public.
Lecture 20:
The aesthetic expression of Cypriots during the period of Ottoman Rule
Speaker: Dr. Iosif Hatzikyriakos
Director of Larnaca Archives - Foivos Stavridis
Coordinator: Dr. George Markou
Assistant Professor, Department of Fine Arts, Cyprus University of Technology
Friday, January 31, 2025 at 7:30 p.m
Lecture Hall 1 (first floor), Tassos Papadopoulos Building, TEPAK, Corner of Themidos and Ifigenias Streets, Limassol
Contact: 25002468, 25002507 www.cut.ac.cy/far
The aesthetic expression of Cypriots during the period of Ottoman Rule
How do aesthetic choices reflect people's relationship with the time and space around them? How do major historical events affect everyday life and aesthetic preferences? This lecture examines the aesthetic dynamics of Cyprus during the period of Ottoman rule. From 1571, when the Ottoman fleet landed on the island, to 1878, the year Cyprus came under British rule, the island was a crossroads of cultures and aesthetic trends.
It examines how the Ottoman rule affected the aesthetic identity of Cyprus, through the investigation of the following questions: Was there a single aesthetic style or multiple, different manifestations? What was the influence of Europe, and how did the Cypriots balance between East and West? What was the role of the Church and the European consulates in shaping the aesthetic orientation? What aesthetic innovations emerged in a society under constant transformation? Through an interdisciplinary approach, the lecture attempts to decode the aesthetic choices of Cypriots, exploring how they contributed to the formation of their identity and how they continue to influence the collective consciousness to this day.
Dr. Iosif Chatzikyriakos is the director of the Larnaca Archives - Phoivos Stavridis and works at the Cyprus Maritime and Maritime Institute (CMMI), at the Cultural Heritage Center. He holds a degree in Fine Arts from the Academy of Venice, as well as a bachelor's and master's degree in Art History from Ca' Foscari University in the same city. His PhD in Social Anthropology was obtained from the University of Ioannina. His interdisciplinary experience includes the curation of exhibitions in Cyprus and Europe, the organization of museums, as well as collaboration in studies concerning ceramics, textiles, the evolution of Cypriot handicrafts and the social importance of the decorative arts. His involvement with Folklore and Cultural Heritage also extends to education. Since 2016, he teaches related courses as a Specialist Scientist at the University of Cyprus and, in collaboration with others agencies, coordinates educational programs on Cultural Heritage in Primary and Secondary Education. He is also an active member of the UNESCO National Committee.