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Xarkis

@xarkis__

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We create, host + curate place-based experiences through slow attentiveness, learning, play + co-creation, towards joy, possibility + hope 🪔

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A final, for now, thank you.

Thank you to everyone who travelled for hours, from different corners of the world, to participate and share with us.

Thank you to the local community of Kalavasos for being so attentive, generous and open, and for creating the conditions for collaborations to flourish.

To everyone who helped our artists expand and enrich their ideas through the stories they shared, the conversations they had, and the practical support they offered in Kalavasos, thank you.

And thank you to everyone who came, listened, took part, watched, and witnessed the work of 27 individuals who poured so much love into this.

Thank you all. Until next year. ❤️

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Ένα τελευταίο, για τώρα, ευχαριστώ.

Ευχαριστούμε όλους όσους ταξίδεψαν για ώρες, από διαφορετικές γωνιές του κόσμου, για να συμμετάσχουν και να μοιραστούν μαζί μας.

Ευχαριστούμε την τοπική κοινότητα της Καλαβασού για τη βοήθεια και τη γενναιοδωρία της, και που δημιούργησαν τις συνθήκες για να ανθίσουν σχέσεις και συνεργασίες.

Σε όλους όσοι βοήθησαν τους καλλιτέχνες μας να διευρύνουν και να εμπλουτίσουν τις ιδέες τους μέσα από τις ιστορίες που μοιράστηκαν, τις συζητήσεις που είχαν και την πρακτική υποστήριξη που τους προσέφεραν στην Καλαβασό, ένα μεγάλο ευχαριστώ.

Και ευχαριστούμε όλους όσοι ήρθαν, άκουσαν, με συμμετείχαν, παρακολούθησαν και που βίωσαν έργα 27 ανθρώπων γεμάτα αγάπη.

Σας ευχαριστούμε όλους. Τα λέμε σε έναν χρόνο.

📸: @andy.g_photography by @xarkis__

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a month ago

The mines were a particularly powerful part of our experience. We learned how workers extracted copper by hand and tools under horrific conditions, and met two of the last people who worked there, one underground, the other loading copper onto trains.

They told us about their improvised protection: no gloves or proper boots, shorts for flexibility, and a water-soaked sponge tied around the head to filter the toxic air. It wasn’t enough. Many workers later died from lung-related diseases.

Their stories survive in books, records, interviews and films, and now become part of the artists’ journey and Xarkis Festival’s journey in Kalavasos.

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Tα μεταλλεία αποτέλεσαν ένα ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό κομμάτι της εμπειρίας μας. Μάθαμε πώς οι εργάτες εξόρυσσαν τον χαλκό με τα χέρια και εργαλεία, κάτω από φρικτές συνθήκες, και γνωρίσαμε δύο από τους τελευταίους ανθρώπους που εργάστηκαν εκεί, τον έναν υπόγεια και τον άλλον στη φόρτωση του χαλκού στα τρένα.

Μας μίλησαν για τα αυτοσχέδια μέσα προστασίας τους: χωρίς γάντια ή κατάλληλες μπότες, με κοντά παντελόνια για μεγαλύτερη ευελιξία και ένα σφουγγάρι βρεγμένο με νερό, δεμένο στο στόμα γύρω από το κεφάλι, για να φιλτράρει τον τοξικό αέρα. Δεν ήταν αρκετό. Πολλοί εργάτες πέθαναν αργότερα από ασθένειες των πνευμόνων.

Οι ιστορίες τους διασώζονται μέσα από βιβλία, αρχεία, συνεντεύξεις και ταινίες, και τώρα γίνονται μέρος της διαδρομής των καλλιτεχνών και του Φεστιβάλ Ξαρκής στην Καλαβασό.

(Day 1 of the artists' residency)

Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues @contesteddesires is co-funded by the @creative.eu programme of the @european.union and is implemented in partnership with:

@eccom_it @d6_eu_, @xarkis__ , @labonnebcn @herengracht401 @muhnac @museunacional @museodellecivilta @proprogressione @bjcem_aisbl @museoegizio @creativecourt._ @la_fabrique_art_studio

Associated Partners: @d6culture @larnaka2030 @cyprusuniversitytechnology @fondazionesbac @casa_arabe

In collaboration with: @nubuke_foundation @museodelamemoria RMCG - @uniofleicester

Xarkis Residency is also supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture & the Community Council of Kalavasos.

📸: @andy.g_photography by @xarkis__

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a month ago

We gathered the whole group to jumpstart day 2.

The artists then departed for their exhibition, workshop and performance spaces, sharing ideas, reflections and thoughts.

Visit them today until after 21:00.

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Μαζευτήκαμε όλοι μαζί για να ξεκινήσουμε δυναμικά τη 2η μέρα.

Στη συνέχεια, οι καλλιτέχνες πήραν τον δρόμο για τους χώρους των εκθέσεων, των εργαστηρίων και των περφόρμανς τους, μοιραζόμενοι ιδέες, σκέψεις και προβληματισμούς.

Επισκεφθείτε τους σήμερα μέχρι και μετά τις 21:00!

📹 by Giorgos Athanasiou @mufatsa by @xarkis__

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1

a month ago

Looking back with gratitude to the extraordinary people of Kalavasos, who generously offered their invaluable assistance in the form of knowledge, stories, workshops, practical help, treats, and even their own makeshift cocktails.

Thank you for your hospitality. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to work together again.

📷: @andy.g_photography by @xarkis__

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6 days ago

Throwback to Gaia Olea’s curated nature walk, exploring the herbs and plants she loves and treasures in the area. During her workshop, we learned how to create our own incense.

Although Gaia brought this beautiful craft from Africa, along with her deep knowledge of its wonderful flora, she continues to be amazed by the incredible abundance and diversity found right here, in Kalavasos.

📷: @andy.g_photography & @uniconvisuals by @xarkis__

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12 days ago

My heart, mind and belly are full after Sharing Practice: Cultivating Learning on the island of Ven 💗

A gathering exploring how artistic and cultural practitioners develop and facilitate formats and spaces for learning, knowledge exchange and experience. So much food for thought on how knowledge is cultivated through craft, food, agriculture, land, ecology, architecture, rural life, community and artistic practice.

I had the opportunity to share practice around communities of rural heritage, through 3 cultural platforms: sympraxis, Xarkis Festival and PIKNIK. @sympraxis @xarkis__
Through different formats, including film, photography, exhibitions, residencies, picnics and festivals, these platforms seek to bridge epistemic divides, attend to underrepresented rural perspectives, and facilitate intergenerational, transdisciplinary knowledge exchange and co-creation.

What stayed with me was how different practices, people and places can bring us to similar questions: How can we listen better? How do we make space for knowledge that is often overlooked? How do we learn from place? And how can cultural practice become a way of connecting and creating common ground?

Leaving with new thoughts about how we create spaces for learning that are intergenerational, transdisciplinary, local and rooted in place. Perhaps most importantly, with a renewed belief that gathering itself can be a form of practice; a way of listening, exchanging, unlearning, creating common ground(s) and community.

Practice Matters is a creative platform for discussing the ability to act in relation to urgent issues of crisis, conflicts and global challenges - from climate change and ecological collapses, geopolitical and economic crisis and displacement of people, to democracy, social justice and equality.

Sharing Practice: Cultivating Learning is a collaboration between IASPIS @iaspis.se and NaturKulturVen, @naturkulturven organised as part of Practice Matters, curated and hosted by Magnus Ericson and Åsa Sonjasdotter.

📍Ven island, Sweden
Ft. The thatcher craft 📷 1-4

Grateful for this beautiful constellation of people and practices. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this 🦎🌻 taken in Island of Ven by @xarkis__

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13 days ago

A night of beauty for the ears. Through audiovisual performances by some of our resident artists, we immersed ourselves in their uniquely crafted acoustic environments, bringing to the surface all that they inspired us to imagine.

Featuring works by:

@emmidiately
@mihalisshammas
@marialuigiagioffre
@paul_stan_nataraj
@sumer_erek
@amaiamolinet
@boussadia66

📷: @uniconvisuals by @xarkis__

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17 days ago

I had the pleasure of presenting ‘Gaggle’ in the village of Kalavasos, Cyprus.
Realised in collaboration with @paul_stan_nataraj & Mohamed B. Slama, who created the electrifying and special sound for the performance, and @amaiamolinet , who led a ritualistic procession from my performance to Paul’s.
The installation draws attention to the labour involved in producing, handling and moving materials on a large scale. Sugar becomes a metaphor for labour and mass production, connecting to the Kalavasos mines and the wider history of Cyprus, where sugar was once a major export to Europe.
Through the audience participation, filling, carrying and arranging the tea cups, the work brought the everyday into the industrial space of the Olive Mill.
A very special thank you to the people of Kalavasos who lent their tea cups and became part of the work. 🤍

More special thanks to @d6culture & @contesteddesires for the opportunity. 🩵

📸 1-7 @andy.g_photography
📸 8-10 @uniconvisuals
📸 11 @stephenmyle

XF2026 took place as part of @Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues. #CDCD is co-funded by the @creative.eu programme of the @european.union and is implemented in partnership with:
@eccom_it @d6_eu_, @xarkis__ , @labonnebcn @herengracht401, @muhnac @MuseuNacional @museodellecivilta @proprogressione @bjcem_aisbl @museoegizio @creativecourt._ La Fabrique Art Studio

Associated Partners: @d6culture @larnaka2030 @cyprusuniversitytechnology @fondazionesbac @casa_arabe

In collaboration with: @nubuke_foundation @museodelamemoria RMCG - @uniofleicester

Xarkis Residency is also supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture & the Community Council of Kalavasos @koinotikosymbouliokalabasou

© Xarkis by @xarkis__

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17 days ago

First test run for the Rage and Love choir, as part of the Xarkis Festival, in Kalavasos, Cyprus. ✨

🙏🏻Special thanks to @sumer_erek @fauvealice
@nicolas_kyrillou @argyrotoumazou who accompanied me bringing cypriot light and scent to the experience 🕯️ 🕯️thanks @gaiaolea for sharing your knowledge and inspiration 🌬️ 🍃
and to all those who accompanied this experiment and contributed with your walk and your voice. 🎶

🙏🏻Thanks also for the collaboration and support to @paul_stan_nataraj and @patrick_ziza whose beautiful performances were the connecting point for mine 🙌🏻

XF2026 took place as part of @contesteddesires : Constructive Dialogues. #CDCD is co-funded by the @creative.eu programme of the @european.union and is implemented in partnership with:
@eccom_it @d6_eu_, @xarkis__ , @labonnebcn @herengracht401, @muhnac @museodellecivilta @proprogressione @bjcem_aisbl @museoegizio @creativecourt._ La Fabrique Art Studio

Associated Partners: @d6culture @larnaka2030 @cyprusuniversitytechnology @fondazionesbac @casa_arabe

In collaboration with: @nubuke_foundation @museodelamemoria RMCG - @uniofleicester

Xarkis Residency is also supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture & the Community Council of Kalavasos @koinotikosymbouliokalabasou

📸 Photos by
Andrea Constantinide @uniconvisuals
© Xarkis
📸 The pics where I don't appear are taken by me, and the second one, was my hand taking part at @paul_stan_nataraj 's performance 💅🏻

🚀 My specific trip has also been supported by @etxepareinst through their visual arts mobility grants 🙏🏻 by @xarkis__

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18 days ago

What a way to celebrate the final international residency of @ContestedDesires. 💫

At the @xarkis__ Festival in Kalavasos, all 22 artists came together to share artistic research developed over three years and shaped by encounters with place, history and community.

It was a joy to see D6 artists @patrick_ziza and @paul_stan_nataraj presenting work alongside artists from across Europe, Africa and South America. Through residencies in Cyprus and beyond, they've built relationships, gained new perspectives and developed ideas that will continue to shape their work back home in the North of England.

We were also delighted to reconnect with @efuasutherland, @andreas_mallouris, @afroscope, @marialuigiagioffre and @elguendelman, who have been part of our residency programme in Newcastle.

Thank you to the @xarkis__ team and people of Kalavasos for this incredible opportunity for collaboration and cultural exchange.

As this chapter closes, we're celebrating the friendships and creative possibilities that will carry on long after the residency ends. Thank you to every artist who joined us on the journey. 💫

Contested Desires examines the impact of colonial legacies through artistic collaboration. Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. In the UK we are grateful for support from @aceagrams, @heritagefunduk, @communityfoundationnortheast & Newcastle Council's Culture Investment Fund.

The programme is implemented in partnership with: @eccom_it @d6_eu_, @xarkis__ , @labonnebcn @herengracht401 @muhnac @museodellecivilta @proprogressione @bjcem_aisbl @museoegizio @creativecourt._, Fabrique Art Studio

Associated Partners: @d6culture @larnaka2030 @cyprusuniversitytechnology @fondazionesbac @casa_arabe

In collaboration with: @nubuke_foundation @museodelamemoria RMCG - @uniofleicester

Images from the Xarkis Festival taken by: Andreas Gregoras @andy.g_photography | Andrea Constantinide @uniconvisuals © Xarkis Artist Maria Luigia Gioffre stands with with her back to the camera facing an audience sat on chairs. She has one arm raised, the other behind her back. The Troodos mountains are in the background. by @xarkis__

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20 days ago

A space where acts of care, memory, creativity and resilience were presented and explored. The narrow, picturesque streets of Kalavasos. A makeshift classroom that opened a window into the imagination of the village’s children. And so many other small, fleeting things we already find ourselves missing from our artists, and from the community we shared those 12 days with.

Featuring works by:

@efuasutherland
@elguendelman
@d_o_r_o_t_ttya
@andreas_mallouris
@akalais
@sumer_erek
@asa_sonjasdotter
@patrick_ziza

📷: @uniconvisuals by @xarkis__

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20 days ago

Moments within moments.

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Στιγμές μες στις στιγμές.

Featuring works by:
@amaiamolinet
@bonadyssou
@asa_sonjasdotter
@elguendelman
@andreas_mallouris
@sumer_erek
@gloria_oyarzabal
@nicolas_kyrillou
@koriconceptstore2024

📷: @andy.g_photography & @uniconvisuals by @xarkis__

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a month ago