The exhibition of Cypriot artist Kyriaki Phili, entitled speculum mundi displays works which are visual references to historic paintings as well as works with stills taken from film. Her media: pencil, oil, sand and video.
Her two main visual references are the paintings of Johannes Vermeer and Luchino Visconti’s film, Death in Venice. For the former, the artist attempts to generate a new reading for selected artworks by Vermeer by modifying particular symbols of the historic paintings. Consequently, a new narrative and inevitably a new meaning emerges. With Visconti’s Death in Venice, she regards the subject’s gaze as an impulsive act, which purveys the desire of human beings to be seen and transcends the subject’s sudden glance, portrayed through Visconti’s camera.

Kyriaki Phili, Punctum Temporis 1970 II, 2016, Digital print on sand, 24 x 46 cm

Kyriaki Phili, Punctum Temporis 1917, 2016, Digital print on sand, 40 x 65 cm

Kyriaki Phili, In Lido of Venice 1970, 2016, Pencil on paper, 50 x 140 cm

Kyriaki Phili, Tanneke’s face, 2013, Pencil on paper, 70 x 70 cm

Kyriaki Phili, Locus II, 2016, Oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm