Artist: Theodoulos Theodoulou
Location: The Mother square, Siakolas Commercial Park, Athalassa area, Strovolos. Nicosia district
Material: Brass
Dimensions: 2.56 meters (with the pedestal)
Category: Cypriot Women
Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou
In 2006-2007 Nikos K. Shacolas submitted to the Advisory Monuments’ Committee his proposal for a sculpture dedicated to the memory of his mother Eleni.
“The Mother” overturns all visual connotations applied to Cypriot mothers. Because of its individual character it is the only public depiction of a mother as a charming young woman joyfully playing with her children, exposing her body in a carefree manner, and ignoring altogether the conformism of the implicit or explicit heroic commemorations.
That exception proves the power of the prevailing female stereotypes in Cyprus. The snapshot impression this memorial evokes was allowed for the reason that it is not making part of the nationalistic iconology. The elimination of this parameter permitted the individual facial traits, the emergence of personal emotions, and the fluid, relaxed movement of the body. Among all female representations in commemorative public sculpture in Cyprus this is the only case of a woman with an individual identity who vindicates the right to be herself, indifferent to society’s gaze.
Selected sources:
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/12, document June 7, 2006.
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