A new and collaborative exhibition opens in Paphos this week, adding to the city’s cultural agenda. Megadence, as part of Visual Voices’ Vis-à-Vis Nicosia programme, presents the opening of ‘What does not finish disappearing’ on October 23, showcasing works by Marinos Houtris and Ekso.
Hosted at Decade (on 4 Agiou Kendea Street), the exhibition will remain open until November 6 and includes a roundtable conversation with the artists, a journalist and the co-founder of Megadence.
“Through field recordings and documentation of the landscape,” comment the organisers, “the exhibition attends to what becomes perceptible only through disturbance, exposure and transition. Construction sites in Paphos become points of access to infrastructures that are normally buried and to flows that cannot ordinarily be seen or heard.
“By recontextualising what is embedded within the seemingly ordinary and familiar, yet remains imperceptible to the everyday gaze, the exhibition hacks another layer of the city into moments of temporary visibilities. It contemplates what is revealed through these transitional spaces and what remains after they disappear.”
Taking part in this project is Marinos Houtris, who is an artist working across photography, sound and installation. In his practice, he follows things that emerge briefly or remain present without being noticed, attending to the temporary and less visible life of urban space. In recent years, this has taken him beneath the streets of Paphos, following water, pipes, vibrations and the traces left by excavation and repair.
In turn, the second participating artist of the exhibition, Angela Ioannidou, presents Ekso, a collaborative project for critical conversations through artistic and creative practices. Its name, meaning ‘outside’ in Greek, reflects an engagement with Paphos as both a geographical and cultural ‘outside,’ creating space and visibility for perspectives and voices that exist beyond dominant narratives.
A roundtable conversation on 31 October will bring together artists Marinos Houtris, Angela Ioannidou (Ekso), journalist Niki Laou, and Marina Demosthenous, the co-founder of Megadence and moderator of the discussion.
What does not finish disappearing
Collaborative exhibition by Marinos Houtris and Ekso. October 23-November 6. Decade, 4 Agiou Kendea, Paphos. Opening night: 7pm. Thursday-Friday: 5pm-7pm or by appointment. www.megadence.com
Kanon Ito, the youngest artist at this year’s ArtCargo Festival, is a 12-year-old Japanese slackline champion ranked world No.1 in women’s freestyle tricklining for 2025/2026. She will bring her acrobatic skills to Nicosia this October for three performances and a workshop, as part of the festival’s Youth Programme, alongside a graffiti workshop, local slackliners and DJ sets.
Ito is the first girl to land a Rikuto flip on a slackline, an International Gibbon Pro Rider and the Women’s World Champion at the Trickline World Cup in Munich, Germany.
Performing on a line just a few centimetres wide, Ito will showcase her jumps and aerial tricks, including her signature move, ‘Cannon Ball’. The performances take place on October 24 at 13:00 and 15:00, and October 25 at 17:00, at the square in front of the old Nicosia City Hall, near Eleftheria Square.
Ito will also lead a slackline workshop on October 25 at 13:00, introducing participants to the basics of balance, movement and tricklining at the old Nicosia City Hall.
The performance forms part of the ArtCargo Youth Programme, supported this year by its primary partner, VF Foundation, and the Embassy of Japan in Cyprus. Bringing together sport, circus and street culture, the programme aims to introduce young people in Cyprus to these urban art forms and encourage participation in creative and physical activities.
“Urban spaces belong to everyone, especially the youth,” says the VF Foundation. “Bringing young artists and athletes into public spaces creates opportunities for inspiration and connection. Kanon Ito is an incredible young artist whose skills challenge expectations and inspire people of all generations. We are thrilled to bring her to Cyprus for the first time and grateful to the Embassy of Japan for its support.”
“We are delighted to support Ms Kanon Ito’s participation in Art Cargo in Cyprus,” says the Embassy of Japan.“It is wonderful to welcome such a talented young slackline athlete, bridging the geographical and cultural distance between our two countries. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the organisers of Art Cargo for making her journey from Japan possible and look forward to witnessing her inspiring performance.” The Youth Programme also features a Spot Tagging workshop led by George Kyrou, in collaboration with Spot Art Supplies, on October 25 at 15:30. Participants will practise creating their tags in notepads using markers designed for tagging. DJ sets and street performances by local slackliners will take place across both days, spreading the celebration of urban street culture.
With the support of Exness and bbf:, all performances and workshops have free admission, giving children, teenagers and audiences of all ages the opportunity to see an internationally recognised young athlete perform live in the heart of Nicosia.
A new group exhibition opens at The Gallery 45 in Limassol on October 22, featuring the works of five Armenian and Iranian contemporary artists. Curated by Andronik Kachiian of the Hosq Foundation, Armenia, the exhibition is titled Land Written in Verse: Contemporary Landscapes.
On view until November 29, the exhibition features the artists Armen Hakobjanyan, Astghik Petrosyan, Ayda Roozbayani, Iman Ebrahimpour and Maryam Khastoo, whose works explore the relationship between nature, memory, identity and the places we inhabit.
Moving beyond the traditional representation of landscape, the exhibition considers how the places around us are experienced, remembered, and reimagined. Through painting, ceramic sculpture, drawing and photography, the works offer different perspectives on natural and urban environments, revealing how our surroundings can reflect both the world we see and the emotions and memories associated with it.
Land Written in Verse: Contemporary Landscapes
Exhibition by Armen Hakobjanyan, Astghik Petrosyan, Ayda Roozbayani, Iman Ebrahimpour, and Maryam Khastoo. October 22-November 29. The Gallery 45, Limassol. Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm. Saturday by appointment. www.thegallery45.com
Street performances, festivals unfolding in streets and across neighbourhoods, art exhibitions and the first Halloween events make their appearance this weekend. Here’s what’s on this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday!
Festivals
Nicosia is leading the way this weekend with four festivals in its cultural agenda – remarkably, all happening primarily outdoors.
On Saturday at the Nicosia Municipal Gardens, is the Solidarity Beats Festival, bringing together diverse communities and voices. An afternoon of live music, DJ sets, dance, graffiti, performances, pop-up stands and more will unfold from 1pm to midnight, with a focus on rembetiko, hip hop and street culture.
Also happening in downtown Nicosia until this Sunday is ArtCargo Festival with its final performances. Shows by circus acts from Spain, France, Japan and local musicians will unfold across Eleftheria Square Bridge, the area around the new Town Hall, as well as a sidebar programme with interactive explorations by Cypriot organisations. The big finale is a show-stopping act from Basinga, happening on October 24 at the Old GSP Square with artists walking on a wire 25 metres above the ground, without a harness.
More street performances, installations and screenings will take place in the neighbourhood of Kaimakli as Urban Gorillas organise the 12th Pame Kaimakli Festival. Artistic acts, workshops and interactive activities will take place along Synergasias Street this year from October 24 to 25.
WIP Arts & Technology Festival continues this week with more presentations, hands-on workshops, its exhibition and a closing event and DJ sets on Sunday.
Exhibitions
New exhibitions arrive this week as well in Limassol, Paphos and Lania village. The Gallery 45 hosts artists Armen Hakobjanyan, Astghik Petrosyan, Ayda Roozbayani, Iman Ebrahimpour, and Maryam Khastoo as they participate in the showcase ‘Land Written in Verse: Contemporary Landscapes’, running from October 22 to November 29.
In Paphos, artists Marinos Houtris and Ekso present the collaborative exhibition ‘What does not finish disappearing’ at Decade, unravelling the city’s hidden layers. The exhibition opens this Friday and will run until November 6.
Original paintings and fine art prints make up an exhibition in the charming village of Lania, created by the late artist Michael Owen, a prominent figure in Lania’s artistic life. Hosted at the Michael Owen Gallery, the exhibition will welcome visitors from this Sunday until November 1.
Halloween fun
This weekend also brings the start of Halloween events and opportunities to get crafty in the spirit of the season. A Halloween workshop day is planned at Lash Dolls in Nicosia, where the artists will show participants how to make their own spooky yuki charm or spooky monster. The event is from 11.30am to 5pm, with different time slots to choose from. Just make sure to book a spot in advance and come dressed in a fun outfit.
More Halloween-themed workshops will take place all over the island. The Mall of Engomi will host creative activities for little ones this weekend from 12pm to 3pm. Public store in Larnaca’s Metropolis Mall also organises an arts and crafts afternoon on Sunday at 4pm.
Finally, pumpkin carving, creations, face painting and beyond will happen at Paradox Museum Limassol this weekend, across multiple slots between 2pm and 6.30pm. And if that is not enough, just wait for next week when more participatory events spread around the island!
Solidarity Beats Festival
One-day festival with live music, workshops, performances and markets. October 24. Nicosia Municipal Gardens, Nicosia. 1pm-12am. Free admission. @Solidarity Beats
ArtCargo Performing Arts Festival
Public street perfomances from local and international artists, installations and workshops. Until October 25. Throughout Nicosia.www.artcargofest.com
12th Pame Kaimakli Festival
Neighbourhood festival with street performances, workshops, screenings and more. By Urban Gorillas. October 24-25. Synergasias Street, Kaimakli, Nicosia. https://pame-kaimakli.org/, https://urbangorillas.org/
WIP Arts & Technology Festival
Festival with exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks and more. By CYENS. Old Nicosia. Until October 25. www.wip.cyens.org.cy
Land Written in Verse: Contemporary Landscapes
Exhibition by Armen Hakobjanyan, Astghik Petrosyan, Ayda Roozbayani, Iman Ebrahimpour, and Maryam Khastoo. October 22-November 29. The Gallery 45, Limassol. Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm. Saturday by appointment. www.thegallery45.com
What does not finish disappearing
Collaborative exhibition by Marinos Houtris and Ekso. October 23 – November 6. Decade, 4 Agiou Kendea, Paphos. Opening night: 7pm. Thursday-Friday: 5pm-7pm or by appointment. www.megadence.com
Michael Owen
Exhibition with original paintings, fine art prints and more. October 25-November 1. Michael Owen Gallery, Lania village. 11am-1pm and 4pm-7pm. Tel. 25-432404. www.michaelowengallery.com
Creative activities for families. October 24-25. Mall of Engomi, Nicosia. 12pm-3pm
Paradox Pumpkin Workshops
Halloween pumpkin, arts and crafts workshops, face painting and more. For children and adults. October 24-25. Paradox Museum Limassol, Limassol. 2pm-6.30pm. Tel: 25-051758 https://www.paradoxm useumlimassol.com/
Halloween at Public (Metropolis Mall)
Halloween craft activities for children. October 25. Public, Metropolis Mall, Larnaca. 4pm
A heartfelt event is organised this Thursday, October 22 to honour Ruth Keshishian, the beloved Moufflon bookshop owner who passed away in August of 2025. ‘A Cascade of Messages for Ruth’ was conceived by Yianna Tsolaki, inspired by one of her last conversations with Ruth.
The two had been planning to take a walk through Agios Andreas, the neighbourhood where they had lived at different times, with the aim of exploring the personal and collective memories held by this particular place. The walk never took place, but the idea behind it now lies at the heart of the event.
Embracing Tsolaki’s invitation, friends of Ruth’s now take part in a shared, imagined walk on October 22, each sharing their personal memories of Ruth and the neighbourhood.
As such, Dance House Lefkosia in the Agios Andreas neighbourhood will host the event with doors opening at 6.30pm and the event starting at 7pm.
Through personal stories, reflections and memories, the invited guests lived experiences with Ruth will gently weave a collective journey through time and place, focusing on the mark Ruth left on those who knew her.
The event brings together Ruth’s friends and collaborators, as well as people from the worlds of culture, the arts and literature, including Arianna Economou, Vasukhan BX, Gabriel Koureas, Garo Kehechian, Chris Connaris, Mary Plant, Natia Anaxagora, Sevina Floridou, Stella Evangelidou, Stefanos Stephanides, Khourig Torosian, Nouritza Matossian, Haris Pellapaisiotis, Constantinos Economides and Diana Wood Conroy. The event is complemented by photographs by Andreas Drousiotis and music by Tasos Papamichael.
A Cascade of Messages for Ruth
Friends and collaborators of Ruth Keshishian (owner of Moufflon Bookshop) share memories and stories. October 22. Dance House Lefkosia, Nicosia. 7pm. Free. Tel: 99-573420, 99-486772
The first days of ArtCargo Festival brought thousands into the streets, squares and parks of Nicosia for remarkable contemporary circus performances and unexpected encounters with international artists. This week, the festival continues to transform the city’s public spaces into stages, with more performances for audiences of all ages, and a parallel events programme.
Week two’s performances open with Blindly by ELELEI, a creative duo from Spain performing blindfold in Eleftheria Square on October 22 and 23 at 6.30pm and 8pm. At the Nicosia Municipal Gardens, the water fountain remains the screen for a special project – Parametric Deep. A dancer comes to life, projected on the water by a special tech system, transforming a mist of water into the screen and parts of the dancer himself. October 22 and 23 will be the last two days of this special production by Panos Malactos and ArtCargo Festival.
Then, Catalan artist Joan Català invites the audience to build the performance, Pelat, with him and discover the balance between physical effort, trust and collaboration. On October 23, Pelat will be presented at Eleftheria Square at 17:00 and on October 24, at the Townhall.
Kanon Ito, ArtCargo’s youngest artist this year, is arriving in Cyprus for the first time with the support of the VF Foundation to present her slackline tricks. The 12-year-old artist from Japan has won several distinctions around the world for her slacklining skills, which she will present in Nicosia on October 24, in front of the old Nicosia City Hall at 1pm and 3pm and on October 25 at 5pm.
The ELELEI group returns on October 24 and 25 to present another performance: Too Much. Here, dance, theatre and acrobatics become vessels of expression to discover what happens when love becomes too much, when care turns into control and obsession.
ArtCargo’s only live music performance is by the Cypriot trio Nabu Pēra, staged at the archaeological site of the Palaion Demarchion on October 24 at 9.30pm, presenting the group’s Soundscapes of Nicosia project.
Joan Catala
The grand finale will take the festival to new heights as the Basinga group brings their Soka Tira Osoa show to the Old GSP Square on October 24 at 8pm. French artist Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga will walk across a 25-metre-high wire, without a harness, which will be set up by members of the audience, making viewers part of the action one last time.
Beyond the main programme, parallel activities invite the crowd to get involved. On October 21, Cypriot group Quantum Circus host an Open Juggling Jam session at the Ayios Andreas Municipal Skate Park at 5pm. Then, the artists behind ELELEI will host a workshop on October 25 morning at [space available], looking at conflict movements, movement research and scenic composition.
On the same day, young star Kanon Ito will share with participants the world of slacklining, guiding them through the fundamentals of finding balance on a thin line, jumping and the techniques of tricklining. The slackline workshop will take place in front of the old Nicosia City Hall on October 25 at 1pm.
Bringing the art of graffiti is a Spot Tag workshop by George Kyrou, who will teach participants how to make their own graffiti signature, find their style, font and characteristic colours, held at Eleftheria Square at 3.30pm on October 25.
ABR participates in ArtCargo by placing small screening installations around the old town. The Birdbox Cinemas allow viewers to peak in, and watch a short film. The birdhouses will be at Eleftheria Square, in the Municipal Gardens and near the Palaion Demarcheion Archaeological Site on October 22, 23 and 24 between 10am and 6pm.
The OPU Collective will host a relaxed evening cycling ride on October 22 to promote safe and sustainable urban mobility, setting off from Ratio Cycling Club on Nikis Avenue at 7.30pm. Finally, a walk and talk is organised for October 24, inviting the public to an urban exploration of Nicosia’s old city while pausing for discussions and reflection. The walk will set off from the old Nicosia City Hall at 12pm.
ArtCargo Performing Arts Festival
Public street perfomances from local and international artists, installations and workshops. Until October 25. Throughout Nicosia. www.artcargofest.com
This Saturday, the Nicosia Municipal Gardens will become a meeting point for music, street culture, art, food and solidarity as Solidarity Beats Festival brings together different communities, scenes and voices for a full day of live music, DJs, dance, graffiti, performances, markets and more.
Running from 1pm to midnight, the festival features rebetiko and hip-hop music as well as street culture, celebrating music that historically has given a voice to people on the margins. The music genres are rooted in freedom of expression, resistance and dignity.
With free admission, the festival’s programme also includes live performances and DJ sets from Troubles All Around Me, Bark o’clock, Vikkie, Mira, Indra, Soluta and DJ 2ns, alongside Xikkosou and Simpetherka.
Plus, an open-level Hip-Hop social dance workshop by T.E.A.M Hip Hop Collective will take place alongside the performance ‘A Dance For The End of The World’ by Diamanto Chatzizacharia with Areti Chourdaki, Elina Karacosta and Julie Charalambidou, a Graffiti Workshop by Mathieu Devavry, and street ping pong by Pingy Pongo.
Happening throughout the day are pop-up markets from The Old Classic Thriftshop, Sixteen Rounds Tattoo Studio, Notions of Siana, Afoa Bookstore, Pirgos Elegxou 506, Anakoutrefko Market and Studio Tooki, with food from different cultures and Cypriot craft beer from Radical Way and Crossline Brewing.
And that is not all. At the entrance, essential food and hygiene supplies will be collected for the humanitarian programmes of Mission Solidarity, supporting people and communities facing hardship.
The festival is built around the belief that solidarity is a daily act of care, respect and collective responsibility. It aims to create a space where everyone has a place, regardless of gender, nationality, religion, background or identity. Racism, sexism, violence, abuse and any form of discrimination have no place at the festival.
Solidarity Beats Festival
One-day festival with live music, workshops, performances and markets. October 24. Nicosia Municipal Gardens, Nicosia. 1pm-12am. Free admission. @Solidarity Beats
Five years after its Cyprus debut, Quatuor Diotima returns to Nicosia on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. One of France’s most renowned string quartets, and one of the most sought-after chamber ensembles on the international stage today, heads to the capital city for a concert at The Shoe Factory.
On Friday, October 30, the quartet performs in Cyprus presenting an intense, searching and deeply expressive programme. Across the European chamber music scene, Diotima has captured a distinctive place, boasting a repertoire that ranges from the great masterpieces of the 19th century to the some of the most important music being written today.
Having performed at esteemed venues such as Wigmore Hall, Pierre Boulez Saal, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Philharmonie de Paris and received critical distinctions, its musicians arrive in Cyprus. Yun-Peng Zhao and Léo Marillier on violin, Franck Chevalier on viola and Alexis Descharmes on cello have prepared a rich programme for October 30.
Masterpieces by Beethoven and Brahms will be paired with Georges Aperghis’ strikingly original String Quartet No.2, which was commissioned by Radio France and given its world premiere by Diotima at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées a few months ago.
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