Yiannis Toumazis Lecture

A glimpse into Famagusta’s cultural heyday: A treasure trove of Greek Cypriot art returned by the Turkish Cypriot community to the Greek Cypriot community.

This special lecture takes place alongside the exhibition George Pol. Georghiou – Timeless Cyprus, presented in London on the occasion of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union (January–June 2026).

Delivered by Yiannis Toumazis, the talk offers a rare, first-hand account of the return of significant Greek Cypriot artworks that remained inaccessible for decades in Famagusta. Drawing on his direct involvement in the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, Dr Toumazis explores the complex negotiations, fieldwork, and human encounters that enabled these works to be recovered and reintroduced into public and scholarly discourse.

At the heart of the lecture lies the work of George Pol. Georghiou, one of the most important figures of Cypriot modern art. His paintings—deeply rooted in the land, people, and history of Cyprus—form a visual chronicle of the island’s modern experience. Through allegory, symbolism, and everyday scenes, Georghiou documented moments of faith, community, displacement, and resilience. The lecture invites audiences to consider how these works function not only as artistic expressions but also as witnesses to history and carriers of cultural memory.

The event expands the themes of the exhibition by focusing on the concept of cultural return: what it means for artworks to come back into view, how they reconnect communities with their past, and why cultural heritage protection remains a shared European responsibility. The discussion is particularly timely within the broader framework of Cyprus’s EU Presidency, highlighting culture as a space for dialogue, cooperation, and reconciliation.

Programme

• 18:00 – Doors open & exhibition viewing
• 18:30–20:30 – Lecture by Dr Yiannis Toumazis, followed by discussion

Visitors are warmly encouraged to arrive early to explore the exhibition before the lecture begins.

About the Exhibition

George Pol. Georghiou – Timeless Cyprus is presented by the A. G. Leventis Foundation through the A. G. Leventis Gallery, with the support of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cyprus High Commission in the UK.
The exhibition is curated by Loukia Loizou Hadjigavriel and Katerina Stephanides, following the vision of the late Eleni S. Nikita, and brings together works from state, private, and family collections—many of which have been returned from the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Practical Information

• Date: Thursday 13 March 2026
• Time: 18:30–20:30 (doors open at 18:00)
• Venue: The Hellenic Centre, 16–18 Paddington Street, London W1U 5AS
• Tickets: Day tickets available via
  https://www.culturalchc.co.uk/george-pol-georghiou-timeless-cyprus

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Host or Publisher Cyprus High Commission