PAPHOS, CYPRUS – A mural created recently on a building in the community of Chlorakas in Paphos on the island of Cyprus by the artist Anatolio Spyrlidis (aka Royal Venom) has garnered a great deal of public attention, engaging both locals and Street Art, Graffiti, and Art lovers in general. 

The mural artwork is titled ELEMENTS: Earth | Sea | Sun | Life and constitutes part of the program Narrations on the Island implemented by the ANTAMOSIS Group with the support of the Cyprus Youth Board (ReCOVer20 Fund) and the Chlorakas Community Council. The mural art project was coordinated by ANTAMOSIS member Demetra Socratous.

The mural (on an area of 4×6 square meters) combines art styles and techniques that blend together: abstract, graphic elements, street art and calligraffiti/ calligraphy. The main circle features the word “art” whereas the rest of the concentric circles feature the words “know-dream-thrive, passion-inspiration-energy-truth-freedom, harmony-metamorphosis-unity.”

ANTAMOSIS Group aims to introduce the local public to mural art and specifically to the contemporary technique of calligraffiti/ calligraphy, revealing its power as an essential part of the contemporary cultural heritage and furthermore, of the community’s everyday life, enhancing social interaction in the public space during the pandemic.

The mural artist Spyrlidis received a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Design and Technology at Derby University (UK). He has worked as a mural artist for more than 15 years while he started applying the calligraffiti/ calligraphy technique in the last five years. He participated in various local and international events, displaying a rich and well-accomplished portfolio (Instagram: royalvenom). In 2019, he participated in the International Graffiti Mural Event Meeting of Styles held in Pristina, Kosovo. As a Calligraphy/ Calligraffiti artist he collaborated with two Greek streetwear brands, KushComa and Vertigo Athens.

Spyrlidis is leading a Calligraffiti seminar for Deutsche Pop – Köln in Berlin, Germany, at the end of 2020. He is a special guest artist for the 7th Cyprus International Tattoo Convention (postponed until April 2021). His future projects for 2021 include his participation as a mural artist working on large scale buildings facades in the International Street Art Festival Urban Morphogenesis Graffiti for one month in Kazan, Russia.  

The ANTAMOSIS youth program Narrations on the Island promotes children’s and young people’s psycho-emotional empowerment and resilience in order to deal appropriately with the negative consequences and challenges of the pandemic. Since July, a series of theatrical workshops were held by drama teacher Demetra Socratous and a series of animation film workshops by the animator-graphic designer Marios Mattheou. An event for the creation of a Botanical Garden along with storytelling and other group activities was held as well at Saint Nicolas Park in Chloraka, Paphos.

Free and open to the public anytime, the mural artwork is located at 33 Zina Kanther, 8221 Chlorakas, Paphos.

More information about the ANTAMOSIS events is available on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/antamosis/.