By
Heidi Trautmann
What
is the priority on your list of musts when you go travelling, say to London, to
Rome, Venice or St. Petersburg or wherever your trip of the year takes you? I
am sure, it is the museums, all kind of museums - or correctly musea; so it is
for me, especially the art museums. They are the pride of a nation, because
that is where the soul of the nation is kept. The temple of the muses. Therefore
the news that the Leventis Foundation has recently opened the new A.G. Leventis
Gallery in Nicosia made my ears prick up and rush to see the treasures.
Most
of the expats living in Cyprus will know the other and older cultural
institution erected by the Leventis Foundation, the Ethnographical Leventis
Museum within the walls of the Old City near the end of Ledra Street with
regular art exhibitions and educational programmes. In the northern part of the
island, close to Nicosia, we also have, for two years now, a private ethnographical museum which is an
enormous gain in our cultural assets but we do not have a museum of the arts, a
national or private gallery with collections of art.
The
new A.G. Leventis Gallery is situated not far away across the moat in the
Leonidou Street and was opened on 25 March. It is an ultramodern building with
interesting architectural realisations and with very good light conditions. The
people managing the house are obviously very motivated and excited. There is a
nice café next to the Lobby where you can discuss your impressions. In the
Lobby itself you will find the Cyprus Collection which is dominated by Adamantios
Diamantis’ huge painting of 11 panels which has finally found a home after
being brought back from Tessaloniki; it was already shown last year in the
building of the museum (see my review under Cyprus art news No.533). There is
also a hall for temporary exhibitions in the basement. Then on the first floor
you will find the French Collection, in two halls the works by artists from 17th
to 20th century and on the third floor the Greek Collection, also
divided in early and later art periods.
Who
was A.G. Leventis? Here an abstract from
the history of the foundation:
Anastasios
Leventis was born in Cyprus in 1902. He established one of the largest
companies in West Africa and from 1966 served as Cyprus' honorary Ambassador
and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. From the beginning, the aim of the Foundation
was to support educational, cultural, artistic and philanthropic causes in
Cyprus, Greece and elsewhere. The range and direction of its activities
were based on the philanthropic interests of the founder.
The
Foundation supports many cultural organisations and has prioritised the
study of the culture and history of Cyprus and Greece, and a focus on the
communities of the Greek diaspora, particularly in Britain. Cultural,
linguistic and religious concerns of the communities have received the most
attention. The most important initiative in this category has been The
Hellenic Centre, in the heart of London, to which the Foundation has been the
largest donor. An international programme of support for Greek studies,
covering all historical periods, has developed over the years in parallel with
efforts to study and enhance the presentation of Cypriot antiquities in foreign
museums.
The
Foundation's Publications Programme is largely related to the cultural
heritage, archaeology and history of Cyprus. It publishes under its own
imprint and also makes supporting grants to other publishers and academic
institutions.
The
Scholarship Programme that had been initiated by A. G. Leventis himself has
been gradually systematised and greatly expanded, almost exclusively at
university level, and since 1992 only at post-graduate level. There is
also a programme of research grants, essentially at post-doctoral level,
covering subjects within the range of the Foundation's interests. In addition
to these areas, a number of fields have received consistent support from the
Foundation over a number of years. The environment is the principal of these,
with programmes in Cyprus, West Africa and elsewhere targeted at the most
pressing problems. Medical research and disease control and alleviation
have also been important subsidiary activities. Grants have been made for
various charitable causes in Cyprus.
That
is a very impressive biography; however, in my view, the art history of Cyprus should
also contain the art and artists from the other side, but perhaps one day in a
near future…..The Gallery is open daily, except Tuesdays 10:00 – 17:00 hrs and
Wednesdays 10:00 – 22:00 hrs; the gallery is closed on Tuesdays and on public
holidays. Entrance fee is Euro 1:00; there are audio and multimedia guides.
The
Gallery is on facebook and www.leventisgallery.org