Cyprus – Motherhood

Europa 1993 series consists of two stamps (10 and 30 c). The theme chosen by the European Postal Telecommunications Organization (CEPT) was Contemporary Art. The Cyprus Postal Services chose to present works of art on the general theme or motherhood - a choice indicative of the great concern of artists for this theme.

A bronze sculpture (originally of clay) height 25 cm by Nicos Dymiotis (1930-1990). This work was made around 1970 and some copies of it are found in private collections. Dymiotis was born in Strovolos, Nicosia. He attended the Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia and studied sculpture at the Lyon National School of Arts, France (1948-1953). After his return to Cyprus he worked on busts and statues, steles and tombstones. The central theme of his sculpture is MOTHER AND CHILD a subject presented in various forms with new kinds of expression. Dymiotis' work is not confined to an external realistic description but extends to schematization with an emphasis on characters, the simplicity of form, and the rendering of the essential while at the same time it avoids narrative and emphasis on purely plastic values. Dymiotis uses a variety of materials mainly stone, marble, plaster, clay and wood. Dymiotis served as an educator from 1957 and in 1981 he was promoted to the post of Assistant Headmaster.

The card below shows an Applique (106 x 127 cm) by Christoforos Savva (1924-1968). This work was made in 1965 and is exhibited in the National Gallery of the Cyprus Ministry of Education. Chr. Savva was born in the village of Marathovounos and during the Second World War he served as a volunteer in the British Army. He studied at the Heatherly School of Fine Arts, England and later at the Studio of Andre Lhote, Paris. In 1960 he founded the gallery "Apophasi", later to become a place for theatrical and musical performances, lectures, exhibitions etc. He organized numerous exhibitions of his works. He contributed to the renovation of the Cyprus cultural life, to the introduction of modern cultural trends and has generally stimulated the interests of the Cypriot people in the arts. Savva used a great variety of materials and techniques. He used oil colours, water colours, ink and pencil. He made etchings and used mixed media to create appliques, reliefs, mosaics, sculptures with cement, metal, wire, pins etc. Merja gave me these two lovely maxi cards.