The quarantine days are finally coming up to an end and more and more exciting places in Limassol are opening their doors for people seeking for new and fresh emotions and experience within art and media world after being locked home and coping with isolation. One of such beautiful places is the Gallery 45 that invited MoiOstrov team for a small introduction and shared the upcoming events with us.
The Gallery 45 is located at 45 St Andrews Street right in the heart of the old town. Today it is the arts and cultural center of Limassol, but looking back in 1923, the year when the building of the gallery was constructed by the textiles merchant Panayotis Iacovides, the street was filled with yarns and fabrics shops where tailors and seamstresses cut cloth that had arrived in ships at the nearby port. Much like today, there were shops on the ground floor and the gallery space was Panayotis’ private residence.
Right after stepping inside, the atmosphere of Belle Epoque style is wrapping you in a warm and unordinary mixture of historical and at the same time modern visual elements reflecting the optimism and growth of the post-war period. The Greek architect Zacharias Vondis, inspired by natural shapes, colors, and curved lines, managed to harmonize the space with the environment in a very gentle and authentic way. Vondis also designed the old Pantopolio (now Agora), the Municipal Library, the triangular Scjhizas Yellow House and many other significant landmarks in Limassol.
The owner of the gallery, Sanaz Nazemi Agha, kindly made a tour around the place and shared its story with us, explaining that since 1992 the space had been a showroom and the regional offices of their family business, a textiles and garment company operating since 1851. Entering the actual office, you cannot help examining the design of the room filled with an oriental flair, one that’s inspired by the Middle Eastern roots of the textile business. The furnishings coupled with the French-style baroque architecture make this space curiously eclectic and held our interest during the visit.
Sanaz made a great renovation of the space putting her gentle touch and professional view as a base for creating an up-to-date look of the gallery. She started her career 16 years ago in an arts publishing house on the south coast of England in a small town called Worthing, and eventually moved to London where she worked in architecture and engineering publishing, before her career path brought her to Cyprus. She shared her memories with MoiOstrov team about her journey and the gallery:
“Although I’ve always had a keen interest in the arts, I can say it was my career that intensified this passion. For as long as I recall, I’ve been a gallery and museum enthusiast and since renovating my own family home here in Limassol, I became an avid collector myself.
It’s through my love of the arts and my collecting habits, and connecting with people from the arts world that I find myself here today. After much introspective consideration during 2020 when we spent so much more time at home, following many late-night discussions with my husband, The Gallery 45 was born in 45 St Andrews St.”
The gallery is preparing to open its doors to the viewers in upcoming May, soon the first exhibition announcement will be posted covering the artists works and more detailed information about the event. We are so ecxitied to share it with our readers and waiting for the opening! Stay safe and tuned!