Heidi Trautmann Column
I have placed the text also under Art News because it concerns the arts and artists worldwide...
Movements…I mean movements
literally…walking for peace… and not just a getting together of the clever
heads of the world who discuss peace in theory and then go home and continue
with the life of their own. Do they live up to it, these cost intensive
theoreticians? Do they themselves follow the rules they are setting up? So far,
over the last decades, nothing much has been reached. The various war fires
alight around the world speak the truth.
PEACE has become such a rare precious
asset although we can have it for nothing; we just have to change our attitude.
We cannot change the whole world but we can start on a small basis, our living
space to start with. Peace within our families, among our friends and neighbors,
simply by respecting them, listening to them and helping them when necessary;
the reward comes back automatically.
There are some among us i.e. in the
whole world, I am amazed to read how many - who want to do more and they pack
their rucksack and join a peace group walk for any amount of time; they give up
their jobs for a while and do it for weeks, months or even years. The
motivations vary, the ones want to stop smoking or escape a bad relationship,
others combine the thought of peace with sportive reasons; still others go on
longer tours, often just by themselves, because they have the feeling they have
to do something, a sort of protest of humanity, a pilgrimage for peace, love
and friendship among the people of the world; they encounter on their way
people to talk to and will find them likeminded and they will realize a change
in themselves, day by day. Just as one of them did, Halkios, a Greek young man
of 44 years, with Cypriot roots, born in Benghazi, Libya.
Halkios has a vision, which he
started following nine years ago; he gave up his job eight months ago and took a
leather-bound diary with 364 pages, into his hands and he started walking. He
had been miserable for many reasons, his life, the situation of the world,
disappointments, hate and jealousy, so he took the title of the diary “The
Diary of an Angel” as his leitmotiv and started to establish a virtual building
along with the eventual filling of pages of his Diary of an Angel over the
years. He describes it: “It is an art book, a manuscript, a valuable
collection of images, sound and music, of poetry, spoken word videos; a
documentary which gives both the contributor and artists the ability to
communicate and reevaluate their beliefs in human collaboration and vision….” A
collective manifestation by artists for Love, for Friendship, for Peace.
His project has 5 journeys, three of them
are completed, and the fourth is now his tour on foot around the island of
Cyprus, the Land of Venus, from one cape to the next which he sees as the five
elements water, fire, earth, air and the last of the Spirit that brings to a
sixth which he will announce the day he will reach Polis. He walks to meet history in important
monuments, churches and mosques, the pure air of the mountains in its beauty
and solitude but also the communication with people in the villages of Turkish
and Greek Cypriots alike.
“I have gone through an emotional rollercoaster
during my journey around the world, I have recognized the importance of direct
human communication to the ordinary people, eye to eye with an open heart, but
also followed the red thread of my concept, to meet with the artists of all
disciplines and I met them and they entered their contribution love friendship and
for peace, in the book: 91 artists: 91 x 4 pages = 364. If an artist met me on our virtual level and
wanted to have a say in the matter of peace, love and friendship, the book was
going to him/her by air, as it is proper for an angel.
I have met Halkios Kypros on the occasion
of the Olive Festival in Zeytinlik/Templos, an ancient place, and we talked,
and we discussed the Omni-present wish for peace, love and friendship in all of
us around the world. The fifth and last stage of his journey as messenger with
the Diary of an Angel is Cyprus, and here is to be a final exhibition and
finally the publication of the book.
Halkios has a message for us, I have taken it from his
website www.halkography.com , a website around 54.000 people have been visiting so far.
“I am a traveller a seeker of Life and of True love. I
have travelled the World with Hope to find Love. I am a Friend, a Messenger, a
Lover and Myself. I am visiting this beautiful land that inherited the beauty
and the Love from its people. I come as an individual with a good intention
whose love for art can only be described with actions and therefore I have
taken the initiative to bring this manuscript of Love, that it was written for
Love, for Friendship and for Peace and with great respect to the people who
wrote inside, those who have delivered it to others and those who anticipated
for it, in Cyprus and it's been given to its people, whom I have great respect,
unconditionally. It is my gift to Cyprus.”
I am sure you will hear more from and about him. I
will keep you informed. In the meantime practice some peace – love - friendship
in your own individual world.
Tasteful Smile
Smile has a taste of its own;
when we see somebody smile,
we taste a little bit of their soul.
Lovers kiss, because they want
to share their smile;
they taste each other’s souls
and they cheer Life...
By Halkios Kyprios 2007
The article is published in the Weekly Cyprus Observer on Oct 19
For more details on Halkios journeys and experiences please visit his Website