Nicosia exhibition traces Serbian artist's first years in Cyprus
Closely Observed at In Toto Gallery in Nicosia showcases seven works by Milenko Stevanović, created between 2021 and 2026, exploring portraiture and the act of looking.
An exhibition of works by Serbian artist Milenko Stevanović, created between 2021 and 2026, opens at In Toto Gallery in Nicosia on Thursday, September 17 at 7pm and runs until October 15, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
Titled Closely Observed, the show brings together four paintings, two fine art prints and one drawing that trace the artist's first years on the island, alongside a self-portrait that places the observer inside the image. It is curated by Constantinos Kyprianou and presented by ABR – Alternative Brains Rule.
Organisers describe the exhibition's theme as a challenge to the idea of observation as a one-way act. Over the long hours of painting from life, they say, the line between observer and observed gradually dissolves, and attention becomes reciprocal. For Stevanović, the sitter is not simply a subject but the starting point of the creative process.
The title carries a double meaning: the works result from close observation, while the exhibition itself becomes an observation of the artist's own life. Gathered together, the seven pieces read less as a survey of portraits than as a portrait of proximity — of the people, spaces and everyday rituals that have shaped a life on the island.
Parallel events
Two events accompany the exhibition: a conversation with the artist and Diomedes Koufteros on September 24 at 7pm, and a guided tour with Michael Pavlides on October 2 at 7pm.
Opening hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 7.30pm, and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. The gallery is also open during the Laou Laou event on Sunday from 10am to 1pm and 3.30pm to 7.30pm.
What it means for residents
For people living in Nicosia, this is a free-standing cultural event rather than something that changes daily routines, but it does add a reason to spend an evening or a Saturday morning in the old town and to catch a show that closes in under a month.
- Plan around limited hours. The gallery opens only on selected afternoons and Saturday mornings, so check the schedule before heading out — especially if you want to attend the September 24 talk or the October 2 guided tour.
- Combine it with a weekend stroll. The Sunday opening hours overlap with the Laou Laou event, making it easy to pair the exhibition with a walk through the area.
- Check with the organisers. Dates and times can shift, so confirm details with the gallery or the presenter before travelling.
info.cy editorial team. This note was prepared with the help of AI.
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