ΦΧΨ (fihipsi) Heritage Design is a collective initiated by curator Yianna Tsolaki and designers Marios Charalambous and Constantinos Economides. The collective focuses on the creation of objects and installations, influenced by local topography and heritage. Additionally, ΦΧΨ’s interest lies in contributing to the visual and literary dialogue of our cultural heritage. In doing so, the work that unfolds often leads to findings on how we relate and reflect upon what is perceived to be our heritage. At times, an instilled need surfaces, whereby the resulting outcome is voiced as heritage activism.
2015 - 2016 - Exhibited the Cyprus divide inspired DOTing (mirror, lamp, hooks), Peep Hole (lamp, box) and Green Line (table, lamp) product series within the Hamburg PAPENHUDER 57 Gallery, where Yianna Tsolaki was acting curator of the design section. In 2017, the DOTing Mirror by Constantinos Economides and literary context by Yianna Tsolaki, was nominated for the German Design Award in the Excellent Product Design category.
2018 - Conference on “Boarders and Bridges in World Literature & Art”, University of Cyprus - Humanities Dept. honouring Professor Stephanides on his retirement. presented 1 border, 2 rusty bumpers, 3759mm yellow bridge. A work based on a yellow morris minor in the buer zone and the long standing dispute of whether it lies within the UN controlled area or the occupied area.
2018 - Larnaca Biennale “Container & Content” their work Worship Container depicting five monumental worship locations of the town earned them a Finalists Award. And what if the Content or the Container is paradoxically deemed unworthy of transferring. Would that somehow belittle its historic role or aspect of essentiality?
2019 - Invited to display work for Almyra and Anassa hotels in the “CY alternative tradition art & design exhibition”
where they presented Scattered Domes - Ακάμαντος, Ακάμωτος, Άκαος ” reecting the ongoing Akamas Peninsula environmental issue and the myth of the 101 churches of the region.
2019 - embarks on a yet another critical heritage piece of work the Berengaria Project (on Subjection & Deance).
Collaborating with thirty-six creatives across disciplines who were invited to create work around the concept of Berengaria of Navarre. Numerous references to this Queen were studied and how we relate to her as a reference point of our cultural heritage. Berengaria having crossed the shores of our island for a shorty spell in 1191, she wed her King, Richard the Lion-heart in Limassol, after he had both conquered the island and shortly after sold it to the Knight Templars. References to the Berengaria Hotel in Prodromos, the Berengaria military camp in Polemidia and Queen Berengaria, all link to similar fates. subjection and desertion. The work was showcased island-wide in museums, galleries and public spaces throughout the year and a collective exhibition under the auspice of the Mayor of Limassol was held at the Municipal Art Centre of Limassol - Apothikes Papadaki, in the Autumn.
2020 - Hellas Bicentennial 1821-2021 Hydriot Winds was a proposal to be showcased in Hydra reecting on the anniversary for the 200 years from the Greek Declaration of Independence. An abstract depiction of Hydra and of work created by the great artist Nikos Hadjikyriacos Ghika immerse into an object created by the collective into a new form. Ghika has created extensive work reecting the scenery of the island while living there during long periods between the mid 1930’s and early 60’s.
Most recently, in 2020 the Architectural Identities of the Berengaria Project brought additional context to the dialogue where an architect, a civil engineer and an artist all portraying their perspective on the monumental buildings of the project and how these reect on shaping people experiencing them. Presented at ARTos Cultural and Research Foundation and at the University of Nicosia - Architectural Dept. This project was further linked to the Leipzig Baumwollspinnerei with Berengaria Queen of Loneliness, by artist Penny Monoyiou, curation Yianna Tsolaki whereby reecting on this historic industrial building and its impact on artists working and creating in what is now a cultural center of Europe. Following this work, the artist and the collective, through its curator was invited to display within their museum Spinnerei Archiv Massiv between January - March 2022.
The work Arch & Pillar is She being prepared to be showcased reects the location, the spinning mill in its industrial years, the topography of its location and the young girl workers within it. The exhibits will also be featuring a collaboration with both a local weaver and the Cyprus Handicraft Centre.
© ΦΧΨ Heritage Design 2015 - 2021.
