Loukis Menelaou - Beyond the Threshold

The new season at Gloria Gallery sets off with the first solo exhibition by Loukis Menelaou. The exhibition entitled “Beyond the Threshold” will open on Monday the 4th of September at 7.30 p.m.

Loukis Menelaou was born in Nicosia in October 1997 and grew up in the divided city. In 2016 he graduated from the GC School of Careers and began his military service in the National Guard, where he is still serving today. Next September he will begin a course in Architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture of the University College London.
His love for art became apparent from a very young age. During his teenage years, through his high school activities, he had the opportunity to develop his skills in various artistic areas. His paintings and photographs were exhibited at the GC School of Careers annual art exhibitions every year between 2013 and 2016 and in 2014 he led a team which won 1st prize in a competition organized by the Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers for the creation of a Green Energy Mural at the school premises. In 2015 one of his photographs was chosen, through a competition, to be printed on the invitation of the “Second Sex” photographic exhibition, organized by the human rights movement The Justice Project. At the same time he was appointed by his school as Director of the Art Club, teaching young school pupils art. He was also Multimedia Director of the school talent show and Director of numerous other school events. For a number of years he worked as a regular reporter for the school’s monthly gazette and official photographer of school events.

His out of school activities include internships, during the summers of 2014 and 2015, in Architectural Firms in Nicosia and London respectively.

His experiences, images and memories from the city of Nicosia, in which he was born and grew up, as well as his 13 month military service in a guard’s post next to Nicosia’s green line, inspired him to create his first solo painting exhibition, “Beyond the Threshold”.

The amputated city of Nicosia is a city so well carved out on the map. With its robust walls and well defined boundary between the North and South, it is difficult not to be able to visualise its boundaries. So why is it difficult to find the threshold when defining Nicosia as an identity of race, social status and culture?

“Beyond the Threshold” is an exhibition focusing on what it means to be defined as “Nicosian” exploring the virtual boundary beyond the physical borders set on us. Furthermore it focuses on finding the mental boundaries set on us, by the laws of our society, with a goal on breeching them to create a more open minded outlook on the city.

The exhibition opens on the 4th of September 2017 and will remain open until the 12th of September 2017.

Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday 10.30 – 12.45 & 17.30 – 20.00
Saturday 10.30 – 12.45