On Site

"In Focus" on Cyprus

On Site is an interview series that sheds light on the relations between the German and Cypriot cultural scene. It introduces partners and associates of the Goethe-Institut as well as artists and scholars from Cyprus and Germany, who have established artistic ties with the respective other country in the framework of festivals, residencies, workshops, guest performances or projects.

How have they experienced the respective cultural scene and the exchange with local artists and scholars? How does their work relate to the Cypriot and German culture? What sources of inspiration connect in their view the two countries? What motivates them to engage in this cultural exchange with their work?

A young woman is standing in front of a stone wall covered in moss facing the camera, with her head slightly tilted to the left and her arms resting at her sides. She is wearing round glasses, two necklaces and a t-shirt. She let her dark wavy shoulder-length hair down. Wearing: Upcycled garment by Studio Nico Stephou Necklace by Andriana Lagoudes.

Interview
Andriana Lagoudes visits documenta fifteen

From the 26th of June to the 2nd of July 2022 a group visit with curators and artists from different countries in Southeast-Europe to documenta fifteen in Kassel as well as Frankfurt was organised by the Goethe-Institut. Cyprus was represented by Andriana Lagoudes.

The director of the institute, Dr. Gabriele Gauler, is standing in the garden of the Goethe-Institut Nicosia and smiling at the camera. She is wearing a blue and white blouse. The green trees and plants as well as the little water fountain of the institute frame the photo in the background.

Interview
Dr. Gabriele Gauler, institute director

On 1 February 2022, Dr Gabriele Gauler took over as director of the Goethe-Institut Cyprus. Born in Kassel, she studied Sinology, Japanology and German Studies in Würzburg and Taipei (Taiwan). Since 1991 she has served in various positions at the Goethe-Institut in Munich, Bremen, Beijing, Budapest, Hong Kong and Berlin.

Natascha Sadr Haghighian

Interview
Natascha Sadr Haghighian: Between places

Natascha Sadr Haghighian represented Germany at the Venice Biennale 2019, which ended last November. In her highly political work, the artist uses performance, installation, sound and speech to explore themes related to culture, identity and the concept of belonging.

Partitur „Ode an die Freude“

A conversation with Cathy Milliken & Lucia Duchoňová
Looking at each other on the same level

On Sunday morning, 24 November 2019, Cathy Milliken, Lucia Duchoňová and the Amalgamation choir met at the Goethe-Institut Nicosia to work on the "Ode for All". In an interview with Elli Michael, Cathy Milliken and Lucia Duchoňová explain how the idea for this cross-border project was born and what we can look forward to.

Jens Georg Bachmann

In conversation with Jens Georg Bachmann
From the heart may it go to the heart

His works are still omnipresent and continuously topical even 250 years after his birth. The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra celebrated this important anniversary for the music world and mankind with a series of concerts of Beethoven’s works in 2020. On this occasion we had the opportunity to talk to the director and chief conductor of the CySO, Jens Georg Bachmann.

Sendecki & Spiegel

Encounters in Cyprus
A conversation with Sendecki & Spiegel

Two world-class jazz musicians from Germany, the Hamburg duo Sendecki & Spiegel, were the last to perform on the first day of the 13th AglanJazz Festival in Nicosia.

Maren Wickwire portrait

Interview
Maren Wickwire, Visual Anthropologist and Filmmaker

Karin Varga, the director of the Goethe Institute Nicosia, had the briliant idea to combine the film with the powerful photo exhibition Apple’s for Sale by Rebecca Sampson. Together we were able to convey a multidimensional understanding of the nuanced everyday experience of domestic workers here in Cyprus as well as in other countries.

Rebecca Sampson portrait

Interview
Rebecca Sampson, Photographer

Personally, I still believe in the power of image and text. But the answer to the question, what kind of impact this power may have, I would rather leave to the audience

Chelsea Leventhal

Interview
Chelsea Leventhal, sound artist

Interview with Chelsea Leventhal, 33 years old, sound artist

Horst Weierstall

Encounters in Cyprus
Having a Cypriot coffee with... performance artist, Horst Weierstall

The exhibition Crossing Line Circle (Marking Time) Markierungen der Zeit shows notations and drawings by Horst Weierstall who was the pioneer of performance art in Cyprus during the 1980s. The Goethe-Institut met him for a coffee at the Hotel Averof in Nicosia to find out what it is that connects him to the island.

Achim Wieland and Marios Ioannou

Encounters in Cyprus
Having a Cypriot Coffee with ... Achim Wieland and Marios Ioannou

Achim and Marios, the founders of the Theater Collective SRSLYyours, have collaborated on various stage projects for eight years and their plays, Woyzeck and Fear Industry, attract international attention. The Goethe-Institut wanted to know why they are so successful together and met with them for a coffee at the Garden Day & Night in Nicosia.

Arne Jansen Trio in Cyprus

Encounters in Cyprus
Having a Cypriot Coffee with ...
the Arne Jansen Trio

Today here, tomorrow there – musicians are always on the go. During performances abroad there is usually no time between the airport and the stage, for them to explore the country hosting them for their short trip. Is Cyprus passing by them without leaving a trace too? The Goethe-Institut in Nicosia wanted to find out about it and met the Arne-Jansen-Trio for a coffee at the Faneromeni Square, in the old town.

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