Chora - Ioannis Kissonerghis
When the Leventis Municipal Museum chose to pay tribute to the life and works of Ioannis Kissonerghis, appios® was called upon to create a fitting identity for an exhibition presenting views of Nicosia, the painters beloved birthplace.
The Nicosian Kissonerghis, characterised by many as the father of Cypriot landscape painting, left his indelible mark on the city with his personal manner. As such, the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia identified places, streets, monuments, and spaces illustrated in his works with postcards and photographs from their rich Photographic Archive.
The exhibition title and logo were inspired by the old-fashioned reference to Nicosia (Chora, Χώρα), inviting viewers on a journey into the past. The typography is an ode to days gone by, and the soft colour palette harmoniously ties in with the delicate pastels and inimitable palette of Kissonerghis’ works.
Accompanying materials carry the same nostalgic charm. Appios® designers created banners, panels, and social media posts for Facebook and Instagram, as well as a hardcover publication featuring photographs of Kissonerghis’ artworks and items from the Photographic Archive of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia.
“Kissonergis’ works immediately evoke a sense of romance and nostalgia for Nicosia as it once was. We were determined to honour that romantic feeling with an exhibition identity that harmoniously captures this essence while drawing the viewer deeper into this heartfelt world that the artist so beautifully reflects through his brush strokes.”
Publication
Well-known as the father of Cypriot landscape painting and one of the pioneers of Cypriot art, Ioannis Kissonerghis is famed for his preference for watercolor and is celebrated as the first Cypriot artist to have used the medium to depict the natural world.
The appios® team was called upon to design a hardcover publication to complement an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of this inspirational Cypriot artist at the Leventis Municipal Museum.
The publication, featuring photographs of Kissonerghis’ artworks and items from the Photographic Archive of the museum, evokes a great sense of nostalgia for the past.
The simple design enhances the delicate palette of the artist’s watercolours, while the ‘humanitarian geometric’ font used throughout the main texts reflects the sensibilities of the soft pastels and inimitable palettes of Kissonerghis’ paintings.
Throughout the publication, the artist’s works – depicting landscapes and subjects from Cypriot urban and rural life – are beautifully juxtaposed with photographs, postcards, and engravings.
“Kissonerghis is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, masterful clarity in drawing, subtle use of line, and the elegance of form and color. This is made evident on every page of the publication, from beginning to end.”
“The publication layout and design ensure every aspect reflects the artist’s dedication to precision and passion for subtle yet breathtaking colour.”
