Artist: Nikos Kouroussis
Location: Saint Varvara church, Kaimakli area, Nicosia. Nicosia district
Material: Granite and stainless steel
Dimensions: 2.20 meters x 50 cm x 50 cm
Category: Turkish Invasion, Modern sculpture
Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou
The initiative for the memorial was taken by the association of the 3rd Company of 211 Infantry Battalion and the unveiling took place on April 9th 2011.
In contrast to the norm Kouroussis chose an abstract, but symbolic, form for the commemoration. The spiral arrangement of the granite layers adds motion and lightness to the column. Spiral motives throughout civilizations and art history have very distinct and shared symbolisms: The upward, coil motion symbolizes evolution, continuity, the power of life and the concept of endless time. On the other hand, in this case, the end form alludes to the DNA graphic pattern which is a very concrete symbol of biological evolution in time. Shedding all superficial, narrative and destructive visual elements which usually accompany memorials and war memorials in particular, Kouroussis captured the power and the essence of time, life and memory in a simple and minimal form.
Selected sources:
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/10, documents September 11, 2005; October 7, 2005.
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/12, Meeting Minutes June 15, 2006.
~ Αρχείο Δήμου Λευκωσίας (Nicosia Municipality Archive), 06-7.17 document June 6, 2006; Meeting Minutes June 15, 2006.
Κeywords: