FAMAGUSTA M[IN]D MAPS - Philippos Yiapanis

This is the teaser video of the interview with the Cypriot sculptor Philippos Yiapanis. The full-length video will be shown in the FAMAGUSTA M[IN]D MAPS exhibition held in Famagusta's Cultural Centre in Deryneia (27/07/2023-10/08/2023).

The exhibition presents a series of 'mind maps', created, collected and analysed during the thesis entitled: The Mnemonic Spatial Dimensions of an Abandoned Border City: The Case Study of Famagusta, as part of an MA in Architecture and Urban Planning. The thesis is specifically exploring the way refugees of Famagusta are able to ‘map out’ the city based on personal and collective memory, after fourty-nine years of absence from their hometown. As part of this extensive research, refugees of ages fifty-five to eighty were interviewed and asked to draw their own map, visualising their memory and experiences of space and place, and the emotions associated with it. These ‘inner landscapes of the mind’ were then analysed to draw conclusions in relation to how cities and places are interpreted through a personalised framework, affected by a person’s political and social background, personal recollection and trauma.

The exhibition is supported by the Municipality of Famagusta, the Cyprus Youth Organisation (ONEK), Cyprus Millers and Politecnico di Milano.

Videography and Video Editing: Konstantinos Koumis
Music: 'Where do I look for freedom' by Zina Melekki
Interviewee: Philippos Yiapanis
Interviewer: Georgia Klefti
Exhibition Curator: Despina Petridou