ANTHI PAFIOU

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The Character Art Workshop has been running since 2022, primarily at the Artistic House in Lythrodontas, but at intervals it has also taken place in other villages across Cyprus, such as Kalopanayiotis and Platres. The workshops are open to everyone regardless of age and are inspired by shadow theater, aiming to create characters on both an imaginative and illustrative level. They include elements of performance art.

Shadow theater seeks to entertain the audience while creating an entire imaginary world. This particular folk art is unique and important because it draws on multiple art forms. The shadow puppeteer, based on their own cultural identity and the social context of the area where the performance takes place, creates and combines the image (figures and scene), the voices of the characters, the music, and the plot of the play.

In line with this concept, the Character Art Workshops incorporate elements of performing arts, contributing to the final character illustration. Initially, the focus is on drawing (studying academic design and experimenting with different materials and paper sizes), then participants experiment and play with voice, storytelling, and body movement to imagine and understand the character they want to illustrate. The final part of the workshop is the completion of the character illustration.

 

Cost
The workshops are free of charge and sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism!

Cover photos - Painting made by Anthi Pafiou