The Archive of Grigoris Antoniou & SKAMMATA
About this Event
Part of Discovering Ancient Cyprus: A Month of Archaeology, Mythology and Cultural Heritage
Sunday 22 November 2026 | 11:00–14:45
Cyprus House, 13 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LB
Join us for a unique Sunday dedicated to the archaeology, cultural heritage and visual history of Cyprus, bringing together film, museum collections, archives and contemporary research through the work of leading scholars, curators and artists.
Presented as part of Discovering Ancient Cyprus: A Month of Archaeology, Mythology and Cultural Heritage, this special event combines presentations, film screenings and discussion, offering audiences a rare opportunity to explore how Cyprus's past continues to inspire new ways of thinking about memory, identity and heritage.
The morning opens with The Archive of Grigoris Antoniou: A Speculative Archive, an illustrated presentation by Professor Theopisty Stylianou-Lambert, introducing an innovative artistic and research project created with Alexia Achilleos.
Inspired by the life of Grigoris Antoniou, a Cypriot archaeological foreman whose contribution to archaeological excavations remained largely unrecognised, the project combines archival research, museum collections, photography and artificial intelligence to explore how archives are created, interpreted and reimagined. Through the use of historical photographs, AI-generated imagery and artistic practice, it raises fascinating questions about memory, authorship and the relationship between fact and fiction.
The presentation will be followed by the London screening of the award-winning short film:
The Archive of Grigoris Antoniou: Notes of an Archivist
2025 | 13 minutes
Commissioned by the Hasselblad Foundation (Sweden), the film follows Martha, a fictional museum archivist who discovers a forgotten collection of early twentieth-century lantern slides from Cyprus. Assisted by an AI-powered museum bot, she catalogues and interprets the material while navigating conflicting evidence, unexpected glitches and the complex relationship between historical archives and emerging technologies.
The morning continues with a keynote lecture by Dr Thomas Kiely, Curator of the Cyprus Collection at the British Museum, exploring the life and legacy of Grigoris Antoniou and the wider archaeological context that inspired the project, before concluding with an audience discussion.
Following a short coffee break, the event continues with a special screening of:
SKAMMATA
Directed by Danae StylianouProduced by the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus 2024 | 87 minutes
SKAMMATA offers a compelling journey into the world of Cypriot archaeology, exploring the people, discoveries and stories behind archaeological excavations across the island. The screening will be followed by a Q&A, providing audiences with a deeper appreciation of the work of the Department of Antiquities and the importance of preserving and interpreting Cyprus's archaeological heritage.
Programme
11:00 – Welcome
11:05 – PresentationThe Archive of Grigoris Antoniou: A Speculative ArchiveProfessor Theopisty Stylianou-Lambert
11:20 – Film ScreeningThe Archive of Grigoris Antoniou: Notes of an Archivist(13 minutes)
11:35 – Keynote LectureDr Thomas KielyCurator of the Cyprus Collection, British Museum
12:05 – Audience discussion
12:30 – Coffee break
12:50 – Film Screening SKAMMATA Directed by Danae StylianouProduced by the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus(87 minutes)
14:15 – Q&A
14:45 – Event concludes
Whether you are interested in archaeology, museums, archives, photography, documentary film, artificial intelligence or the rich cultural heritage of Cyprus, this special event offers an engaging and accessible journey into the stories that shape our understanding of the past.
Admission is free, but advance booking is essential.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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