Cypriot born artist PASHIAS at Trinity College Dublin

Events & Activities Artcyprusirelanduniversities Cypriot born artist PASHIAS at Trinity College Dublin Pashias Diva5 newsroom 3/07/2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cypriot born visual artist PASHIAS completed a two day public performance piece, “DIVA”, at Trinity College Dublin. The performance focused on archaeology, mythology and contemporary social challenges. According to a press release, PASHIAS held a live performance, with additional participant Angelika Gana, at the university’s bell tower. After, a public discussion was held between event contributors and the audience at Old Anatomy museum. The University’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences hosted the event, part of the “Fostering Cypriot and Greek Studies in Ireland” course, in addition to the international network “Unlocking Sacred Landscapes.” The institution also celebrated more than 30 years of Cypriot studies, as well as the transition of the Presidency of the European Union Council from Cyprus to Ireland in 2026. The artwork takes inspiration from the archaeological artifact Aphrodite of Soloi, evidenced by research conducted by Dr George Papantoniou and Prof. Christine Morris, “approaching the deity as a symbol of beauty and eroticism, fertility and care, strength and resilience,” according to the press release. Angelika Gana and PASHIAS stand together on a raised podium during the performance, framed by the arm of the university’s bell tower, which is one of Ireland’s most visited landmarks. The performance mirrors the way Aphrodite is usually exhibited, “encountered and reproduced without the bodily limbs that would enable her to move, act and react,” the press release said, with PASHIAS, standing in as Aphrodite, having his body completed and moved by the hands of his partner, Angelika Gana. PASHIAS and Gana aimed to challenge societal norms, such as gender, identity and social roles through their performance, using their bodies to find a ‘shape’ beyond the binary. The extreme weather conditions were also referenced during the performance, ranging from sunshine to heavy rain and hail. The bodily presence and perseverance shown throughout the duration of the artwork is said to have mirrored the “resilience and enduring strength carried by civilizations and cultures through the centuries,” the press release noted. A public forum took place the next day at the Old Anatomy Museum, a lecture amphitheater where dissections were performed for medical studies in the 18th and 19th centuries. Archaeologist Dr. George Papantoniou introduced the forum, and after, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences Prof. Carmel O’Sullivan, in addition to Prof. Christine Morris, Evi Numen, PASHIAS, and Angelika Gana held a discussion. Alongside this, a video projection of the performance was played for audiences during the open dialogue. The events held were a part of the “Pride at Trinity College Dublin” programme, aiming to promote the visibility of equality and rights for the LGBTQI+ communities, along with transgender and non-binary individuals. “DIVA”, in regards to this, explores the body as a “site of negotiation between gender, sexuality, identity, authority and resilience,” explained the press release. It was further recognised and included in the annual academic symposium “Pride in Research,” which was held at the University on the 23rd of June, showing the important role of research and art in social justice issues. PASHIAS’ piece adds on to his longstanding “Body + Exhibit” methodology, which debuted in 2014, with this event, further exploring “the relationship between the human body and museum artifacts, archaeology and mythology, as a means of understanding contemporary urgencies,” said the press release. “Body + Exhibit” has been in collaboration with a multitude of major cultural organisations and museums, such as the the Musée des Augustins, the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and the British Museum. Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world. Latest News Isabel Ordaz: ‘War is a failure, not an opportunity for glory’ New allowances and higher payments approved for people with disabilities Israeli media report gradual recovery in tourism to Cyprus What to do if you lost TV channels after the DVB-T2 switch Monaco blast suspect is a woman, was spotted in Germany – source At least 3,700 excess deaths reported during heatwave in France, Belgium and Netherlands Cyprus AI platform in talks with universities to bridge graduate-employment gap