-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I am here to inaugurate the Museum of Kostas Argyros. This inauguration is one of the most important milestones on the road that the Cypriot artist Costas Argyrou travelled in order to realise his dream. This dream, which represents decades of dedication and creativity, today becomes a reality, opening a door to the world of this rare man, revealing his rich and varied creation.
The goal of Kostas Argyros to leave something in his place and to leave his name indelible in time through his works is now a fact. With today's inauguration of his Museum, we honour him collectively, state and society, for this contribution to culture and art.
Kostas took up art at the age of 52, without any previous knowledge or experience. In his first steps he created sculptures in stone and later in wood. I remember very well the room across the street from his house where he kept his works, and opened it to see them when my family and I came to visit on Sundays.
Later he took up mosaics and experimented with painting and composition on glass surfaces.
Kostas Argyrou drew his inspiration from everyday life itself, from folk tradition, the animal kingdom, history, national struggles, ancient Greek mythology and Orthodox Christian iconography.
Argyrou, the first eponymous Cypriot naif sculptor, created until the end with his artistic career lasting until his death in 2001. With his source talent, hard work and creativity he leaves an emphatic legacy and achieves his goal.
Today the museum officially opens its doors to the general public, fully renovated, organised to modern museum standards and this could not have been achieved without the contribution of a few individuals.
And I address, first of all, his own people, his family, for the support they have given him throughout his career, but also the Costas Argyros Foundation. I also congratulate the Curator of the Museum, Mr. H'Loukas, my colleagues in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Ministry of Culture and all the past and present Presidents and members of the Board of Directors of the Kostas Argyros Foundation for their efforts to give life and substance to this museum. Warm thanks, of course, are due to all the persons who believed in his work, being the driving force for its promotion.
The Museum that he himself built with his own effort and expenses to house his works, his "children" as he called them, is now included in the valuable acquisitions of the cultural wealth of our country. It is a unique legacy for future generations. Thanks to him, his village, Mazotos, now has a great museum, which we are sure will attract both Cypriots and foreign visitors and will also be a living cultural nucleus of inspiration and creativity.
One of the main objectives of the Deputy Ministry of Culture is also cultural decentralization, which is an important component for the development of our rural and mountainous areas, within a broader strategic planning of the Government.
One of the main objectives of the Deputy Ministry of Culture is cultural decentralization, which is an important component for the development of our rural and mountainous areas, within a broader strategic planning of the Government.
Thus, through programmes of the State Ministry of Culture, such as that of Cultural Decentralisation, we are promoting the implementation of a series of quality activities in rural communities, gradually increasing grants, with the aim of promoting, cultivating and disseminating our culture. Partnerships and synergies with local authorities for the development of cultural tourism, the promotion of cultural goods and contemporary cultural works produced locally is one of our priorities.
And I would like to take this opportunity to thank the dear Commune of Mazotos for his efforts to contribute to the promotion of culture and cultural tourism in his area. Our excellent cooperation is a model of how society, local authorities and the state can work together effectively for the benefit of culture and art.
I wish this one-of-a-kind museum, which from today will enrich the museum map of Cyprus, to be a success. Congratulations again to all those who contributed to the renovation of this museum and to the organization of this successful opening ceremony. We are confident that it will become a living centre of culture, which adults and children alike will be able to visit, and that through these unique works they will come into contact with the greatness of the soul of the great creator Kostas Argyros.
I am sure that Kostas and his Yorgou would be delighted to be here with us today.
(ΕΠ/ΚΚΚ/ΝΓ/ΜΣ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
