19 October 2024, 20:00, WAGMI café

On 19 October 2024, a public talk was organised by VIMA Art Fair, offering valuable insights into Cyprus’ vibrant and evolving contemporary art scene. The event, part of VIMA’s upcoming inaugural art fair edition to be held in May 2025, was hosted in the frame of Limassol Art Walks and took place at WAGMI café, welcoming a diverse group of people from the broader local art community, including artists, curators, gallerists, cultural stakeholders and art enthusiasts. 

Hosted in WAGMI’s verdant lush backyard amidst a warm and inviting atmosphere, the hour-long panel was moderated by Lara Kotreleva, co-founder of VIMA Art Fair. The talk involved speakers from Cyprus and Greece, namely Artemis Baltoyanni, art advisor, founder of The Intermission Art Gallery, Piraeus, Athens; Maria Stathi, curator, founder and director of Art Seen, Nicosia; Alexandros Diogenous, founder of Pylon Art & Culture, Limassol; and Andreas Mallouris, visual artist, co-founder and director of Korai Project Space, Nicosia.

Against the backdrop of this amicable setting, the public talk made room for meaningful discussion, highlighting the importance of making contemporary art more accessible and engaging with a broader audience beyond just the professional community. The speakers addressed the current state of Cyprus' art market, how it has developed so far and the challenges it currently faces, while emphasising its wealth of talent. Initially exploring how art enthusiasts can move from simply appreciating art to becoming active collectors, the discussion evolved on the role contemporary art galleries and the community play in this transition, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by Cypriot artists.

“Our ecosystem is a symbiotic one that needs cooperation. We need to be together and work with each other”, states Alexandros Diogenous, with all stakeholders agreeing that the future success of the Cypriot art scene relies on collaboration, mutual support, and sustainable funding. In the same vein, Maria Stathi pinpointed that “working collectively on an example like Limassol Art Walks is essential [because it is] the only way forward; the only way for us to be visible outside the Cyprus scene”.

The discussion concluded with the importance of international collaborations, including artist residencies and art fairs, towards bringing global visibility to Cypriot artists. Additionally, the speakers underscored the role of smaller, artist-run spaces in fostering community engagement despite the financial challenges often faced by such independent structures. 

The talk was transcribed to ensure that those unable to attend in person could still access this invaluable discussion at their convenience.