The doll

A performance by Christina Georgiou,

based on the poem "The doll" by Daphne Nikita,

with music by Nicolas Melis.

PRESS RELEASE

This meeting between Nikita Daphne, Christina Georgiou and Nicolas Melis at the Center of Contemporary Art DIATOPOS informs the realization of an interdisciplinary performance in which poetry, visual art, performance art and music coexist and sometimes interfere with each other through a live performance. The starting point of the action is the poem which is transformed into visual images through the body and perception of another creator. The music and sound operate in parallel with the action, which is inspired from the word and the body at the same time. So the image, the sound and the words function as a unity, urging the viewer to coexist in its spacetime and in its multible layers.

The performance by Christina Georgiou intermixes elements of performance art and installation art along with music and poetry to orchestrate an interdisciplinary form. It explores the intersections between visual and performing arts, while using action, music, and poetry in the form of text and the sound of the voice. The poiesis of word occurs in parallel with a live situation which merges different levels – the aesthetic, conceptual and experiential, and unfolds through a physical, visual and aural co-existence.

The surrealistic images and strong emotions that unfold through the poem by Daphne Nikita "The Doll", are embodied in the live action through a surreal and abstract way, thus transforming its spacetime and expanding its interpretation. The music by Nicolas Melis is a contemporary composition with improvisational elements, performed by himself. The action by Christina Georgiou will be realized for the first time in front of the audience without any prior rehearsal as it is an art performance.

The admission is free. The performance will start at 8.30 pm sharp.


Biographies

Daphne Nikita was born in Nicosia. She studied Art History at the University of Kent at Canterbury (BA with honors) and Goldsmiths's College, University of London (MA). Since March 2001 she has been directing the Center for Contemporary Art Diatopos. She has published three collections of poetry. Her poems have been published in various literary journals and anthologies. She is a member of the editorial board of the electronic journal of poetry and essay e-poema (www.e-poema.eu). In 2009 she was invited and took part in the action "Making Words", which was part of the 53rd Venice Biennale of Art. In September 2009 the project "Making Words" (with differentiated actions), was invited and presented at the International Thessaloniki Biennale 2009 where Daphne Nikita recited poems of her during a performance in collaboration with choreographer-dancer Alexandra Wagierstal. www.diatopos.com

Christina Georgiou was born in Nicosia. She is a performance artist, with a background in music and visual arts. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in Fine Art from Kingston University London in 2007 and a Master's degree in Live Art and Performance Studies from the Theatre Academy Helsinki in 2011. She has presented her work at international biennials, exhibitions and festivals in Europe and South America. Some of her appearances include the 3rd Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2011, and the 2nd International Moscow Biennale for Young Art in 2010, among others. In 2012 she was awarded with a ‘Special Prize’ for her performance «Eternal Return» at the international Arte Laguna art prize held at the Venice Arsenale. Her work includes performance, music and visual arts practices and perspectives and elements of performance art, body art, installation art, painting, video art, photography and voice. It also focuses on the body and explores it as subject and matter, image and organism, object and sculpture, while conceptualize it as a symbolic and metaphorical entity. www.christinageorgiou.com

Nicolas Melis was born in Larnaca. During his childhood he received piano lessons from George Arvanitakis and Eleni Gerani. At the age of 16 years he received the Piano Soloist Diploma summa cum laude from the Lykeio Ellinidon Ammohostou in Larnaca. He studied Piano Performance (BA & MA) with professor Markus Tomas at the University of Music and Theatre «Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy» in Leipzig, Germany. He also studied Contemporary Improvisation (MA) with professors Janosch Wozniak, Tilo Augsten and Peter Jarschow. He represented Cyprus at the international music festival «Steinway for young pianists», in Hamburg, Germany in 1999. He has won numerous awards in national and international level, including a «Grand Prix», the 1 st prize at the International Piano Competition for young musicians of HON in Athens and a «Special Prize» at the 1st International Piano Competition EPTA in Zagreb, Croatia. He was a soloist in concerts performed in England, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria and Finland. Since 2011 he has been collaborating with the performance artist Christina Georgiou for the realization of performances and other interdisciplinary project that merges music as performance and as composition. www.nicolasmelis.com