Panicos Georgiades - The Ceramic Artist

Panicos Georgiades presents an exhibition of Ceramic at Kypriaki Gonia Gallery from 15 - 30 June 2011. The exhibition will be opened by the Hon. Mayor of Larnaca on 15 June at 7.00 p.m.

Comments by the Painter Artist Andreas Charalambides:

“Ceramic Art is one of the most ancient arts in the world as it has been documented by numerous archaeological findings. The ceramic findings are very important since they describe in a very clear way the civilization of each era.

The word "ceramics" comes from the Greek keramikos (κεραμικος), meaning "pottery", which in turn comes from keramos (κεραμος), meaning "potter's clay." Most traditional ceramic products were made from clay (or clay mixed with other materials), shaped and subjected to heat,. Tableware and decorative ceramics are generally still made this way. In modern ceramic engineering usage, ceramics is the art and science of making objects from inorganic, non-metallic materials by the action of heat. It excludes glass and mosaic made from glass tesserae. For six thousand years Cyprus has been known for its ceramic art which has produced utensils, decorative items and objects used for the religious cult.

One of the areas that flourished in ceramic arts from ancient times was the area of Kyrenia and, more precisely, the towns of Lapithos and Karavas, an area that today is occupied by Turkish troops. Those two towns of Kyrenia were built high on the mountain of Pentadakylos in order to be safe from the different invasions. I remember that in 1967, when we opened the Boite, our bar at the Paphos harbour, I was looking for both utensils and decorative items such as candle holders, ashtrays or wine glasses for the place. I was then told to visit Mr. Savvas, Panico’s father, at Karavas. as the best artisan in the country. Mr. Savvas sent me from Kyrenia a selection of ceramic items most suitable for my needs.

I got to know Mr. Savvas after the Turkish invasion in 1974 when he was a refugee in Pafos. He invited me many times to his workshop in Koloni to paint on plates and other ceramics he was making. From postponement to postponement years have passed and I never managed to visit him.

His art was passed to two capable artists, his two sons Panicos and Giorgos who faithfully followed his steps. Panicos took from his father the skill and talent of pottery making. After he completed his scientific education in Germany at the presgigious FACHHOCHSCHULE KOBLENZ where he obtained a diploma in the Technology of applied Ceramics and Glass Making, Panicos worked in different countries in Europe. He returned to Cyprus to take over his father’ s work, since Mr. Savvas’ health did not allow him to continue working. His brother, Giorgos moved to Lemba, the artistic village of Cyprus where, together with his wife, he founded Lemba Pottery where they develop a different line of ceramics.

I had the opportunity to work with Panicos for a while. I have experienced closely the way he works, his passion for ceramic art, his will to keep very high artistic and quality standards, which I am sure he achieves. It is worth mentioning that Panicos produces ceramic items with raw material he imports from Europe (since Cypriot raw material is today unavailable due to Turkish occupation) and he produces his own colours and glazings that give life to the shapes. Panicos pays a lot of attention not only to the artistic side but also to the technical side of his ceramics, in order to achieve highest quality. For Panicos, pottery is first a duty and then a way to make his living. Like the ancient inhabitants of Karavas were transforming the amorphous pieces of clay into useful items and cult items, Panicos, a faithful follower of the tradition has developed with knowledge the art of ceramics offering today’s visitors the traditional shapes as well as marvelous pieces of modern ceramics with beautiful colourful shapes.

Opening Hours
10:00 - 13:00 & 16:30 - 20:00