Kanthos - Sharp Edges of History
Telemachos Kanthos (1910-1993) is one of the most well-known Cypriot artists. The A. G. Leventis Gallery chose to focus on two popular bodies of work, the Women’s Bazaar’ and the ‘Hard Years’ series. This exhibition is to honour the 30th anniversary of the artist’s death alongside remembering 50 years after the Turkish invasion of 1974, a tragic event in our country’s history that continues. Still remembers and does not forget.
appios® was appointed to design the identity of the exhibition named, ‘Kanthos: Sharp Edges of History’.
The creative team constructed the identity through taking the title ‘sharp edges’ and creating a slicing image cutting through the name ‘Kanthos’. Through further thoughtful design process, the colours blue, white and yellow were chosen to represent the exhibition as they are core colours that make up Kanthos’ artwork. These tones were used throughout the exhibition, including exhibition catalogues made by the appios® team. These include Kanthos’ artwork from the two bodies of work chosen, quotes by the artist himself and his family and some of his life history to further enhance the exhibition’s impact.
“The identity is inspired by the title of the exhibition, ‘sharp edges’, with the name Kanthos being cut through to enhance the influence of the name, alongside the exhibition.”
“Telemachos Kanthos works depict Cyprus’ community and culture along with the island’s pain and tortured past that still continues to this day.”
Publication
A powerful and classical perspective on Kanthos’ work alongside the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus was successfully illustrated when the appios® team created the identity for a temporary exhibition in the A. G. Leventis Gallery. To enhance the exhibition’s impact, appios® designers were also called upon to design a hardcover publication to complement the exhibition dedicated to the life’s work of the revolutionary Cypriot artist at the A. G. Leventis Gallery. The bilingual publication is available in Greek and English, rich in his work and text.
The publication features Kanthos’ artworks from the ‘Women’s Bazaar’ and the ‘Hard Years’ series, quotes by the artist himself and his family and some of his life history. This evokes a strong sense of remorse and heartache for the past and present. The front cover of the publication already sets the scene for readers, accurately portraying the sense of community Kanthos felt so deeply that compelled him to be the influential and timeless artist he was.
As readers begin, they are greeted with the ‘Women’s Bazaar’ series, displaying the carefree and beautiful aspect of the exhibition. As readers progress, the publication transitions into his ‘Hard Years’ series, capturing the hardship and pain side of the exhibition. This gives the publication a captivating and gripping quality as the two subjects are seemingly unrelated.
“The cover of this bilingual publication immediately engrosses the reader into Kanthos’ artwork as it is a piece from the ‘Women’s Bazaar’ series. With the yellow colour of the title, complementing the art behind.”
“Testimonies from the artist’s family and others, along with some of his life history further elevates the feeling of loss Kanthos represented in the ‘Hard Years’ series, while also making it more personal to intensify the exhibition’s impact on readers.”
