ABOUT UNEARTHING
UNEARTHING was born as an extension of a multi-genre installation by artist Athena Ierodiaconou-van Dongen, in which she explored her individual identity and Cypriot identity more generally via the prism of her own life experiences and the backdrop of Cypriot political events in her lifetime. The installation ran parallel with art workshops, facilitated by Jenny Brown, for secondary-school age children from schools across all of Cyprus representing a cross-section of backgrounds. The exhibition and workshops were hosted at the CVAR (Centre of Visual Arts and Research), Severis Foundation.
Athena and Jenny have been friends and peers for over 30 years. They have both exhibited and worked alongside each other in various projects both in Cyprus and overseas. Both share a love for ceramics, however their bond goes much deeper than that. Living abroad, experiencing and immersing themselves into foreign cultures, has provoked these artists to self-examine their relationship with their own identity. In addition, it has aided their awareness of cultural differences and similarities; resulting in their understanding that we must accept each other despite our differences to better our personal growth, that of our communities’ and the worlds. Essentially, they share a mission to broaden perspective through creative expression whilst promoting and encouraging community collaboration.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Athena Ierodiaconou - van Dongen was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. After graduating from Leeds University with a B.A. in Textile Design and a Postgraduate in Art Education from The University of Sussex, she taught Expressive Arts in England and Cyprus while pursuing her own work in textile design and painting. She is now specialising in ceramics and runs her own atelier “Atelier Maracuja”.
Jenny Sophoclides Brown was born in Amersham, UK. After graduating with a BA Ceramics from Harrogate College of Art she has specialised as an art educationalist working in the UK and Cyprus. Since 2009 she has been permanently based in Nicosia at Club Jubilee, organising and executing creative projects. She also works independently as an artist as well as collaborating with other organisations and charities setting up workshops, for local and bi-communal projects.
