London: The exhibition 'George Pol. Georghiou - Timeless Cyprus' was inaugurated at the Hellenic Centre in London, marking a significant event in the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The exhibition is co-organized by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Leventis Gallery and was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou. Attendees included the Cyprus High Commissioner Dr. Kyriacos Kouros, representatives of diplomatic missions, British Cypriot artists, academics, cultural organization members, and representatives of the Leventis family and the A. G. Leventis Foundation.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this marks the first international presentation of the exhibition since its initial display in Lefkosia. It is considered one of the most important exhibitions of George Pol. Georghiou's works ever shown abroad. The exhibition features pieces from the 1940s and 1950s, sourced from both public and private collections, including works recently returned from Ammochostos thanks to the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage. These works hold historical and emotional significance, having been inaccessible for decades following the events of 1974.
Curated by Loukia Loizou Hadjigavriel and Katerina Stephanides, the exhibition offers new insights into Georghiou's vision and his emotional connection to Cyprus. It includes guided tours and parallel activities throughout its duration. The exhibition's presentation in London is particularly significant as it reaches the Greek Cypriot and Greek diaspora in the UK, emphasizing art's role as a bridge of memory and cultural identity.
In her address, Dr. Kassianidou highlighted the exhibition as a tribute to George Pol. Georghiou, a pivotal Cypriot artist who laid the foundations of contemporary Cypriot art. His work is intertwined with the island's history, memory, and identity, reflecting Cyprus's transition from a British colony to an independent state. Dr. Kassianidou noted that the exhibition uncovers new aspects of Georghiou's career, offering deeper insights into Cyprus's history and culture while enhancing the cultural impact of the Cyprus Presidency.
An educational theatrical program, "Timeless Cyprus," inspired by Georghiou's life and work, is running concurrently across the UK. By the end of June, over 25 schools from the Greek and Cypriot diaspora in England, Scotland, and Wales will have participated, engaging approximately 2,500 children and young people in Cypriot art, history, and culture through theatre and storytelling.
The exhibition is part of the broader cultural program of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council 2026 in the UK, featuring concerts, film screenings, and literary activities, showcasing Cyprus's contemporary cultural identity. The exhibition will be open to the public until 22 June.