Commissioned as part of the commemorative events for the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Nemata (Νήματα) is a participatory art project that explores themes of memory, displacement, and resilience. The project weaves together traditional craft and modern technology, symbolizing the enduring connections between the past and present.
Developed at CYENS Thinker Maker Space, the project combines traditional weaving techniques with advanced fabrication tools like 3D printing and laser cutting to create large-scale models of Cyprus. These installations invite participants to explore personal and collective histories by connecting different locales with threads, tracing their own paths of displacement across the island. Five of these installations were placed in central locations across each of Cyprus’s districts, encouraging public interaction with the work and allowing individuals to trace the path of their personal histories. In the digital version of the project, participants’ contributions are used to “tie” digital threads between locations on a virtual map of Cyprus. This data is securely archived and displayed in real time on an interactive map.
Nemata (Νήματα) encourages reflection on the lasting impacts of the invasion while offering a platform for the public to engage with and contribute to the evolving narrative of Cyprus’s history. Through the creative use of technology, the project enhances public interaction with cultural heritage.
Project Management/Deputy Ministry of Culture:
Andreas Papapetrou
Branding, UI/UX Design and Development:
CYENS Centre of Excellence 3D/SW Development Team (Kyriakos Larmos, Tereza, Kourra, Marios Pafitis, Andreas Socratous)
Design and fabrication:
CYENS Thinker Maker Space (TMS)
Design and fabrication coordination (TMS):
Marios Constantinides
Technical Support (TMS):
Stratis Pantelides and Alexis Charalambous
Design of promotional material:
Maria Loizou
Funded by Deputy Ministry of Culture and CYENS CoE.
The CYENS Centre of Excellence was established in 2018 as a non-profit organisation, in the walled city of Nicosia, through securing a competitive proposal from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 funding program to support research and innovation. The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Nicosia, partnering with the three public universities of Cyprus, and the European scientific institutions University College London (UCL) and Max Planck Institute (MPI), and supported by the Republic of Cyprus. The Centre is active in the fields of Interactive Media, Smart Systems, and Emerging Technologies and conducts interdisciplinary and applied research in a wide range of disciplines.
Thinker Maker Space (TMS) of CYENS is a multifunctional creative space located in Nicosia’s historic centre, designed to support local entrepreneurs, designers, artists, and researchers. It promotes technology-led innovation by encouraging the local creative community to develop projects that utilise digital fabrication techniques and rapid prototyping. Open to the public through a membership program, TMS provides access to cutting-edge equipment and professional technical support. TMS is co-funded from the European Structural Investment Funds E.S.I.F, allocated to Nicosia Municipality for the implementation of its Sustainable Urban Development Strategy “SUDS”.
