The magic of art and the power of science were uniquely combined at the opening of the exhibition “Unseen Gaze: Discovering an Unknown Work by Titian”, which took place on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Papadakis Warehouses in Limassol.

 

The exhibition, co-organised by The Cyprus Institute’s Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories (APAC Labs) of the Science and Technology Research Centre in Archaeology and Culture (STARC) and the Limassol 2030 – European Capital of Culture – Candidate City in collaboration with the Municipality of Limassol, is a unique opportunity for the public to experience a journey through time via the innovative use of technology, of an unknown work of art, hidden beneath the famous painting Ecce Homo by the leading Italian Renaissance painter Titian.

 

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Yiannis Armeftis, who highlighted the importance of this unique cultural initiative for the city, stressing that the exhibition is the result of team research work of The Cyprus Institute, which is presented to the public with the generous sponsorship of Dr. Andreas Pittas. This particular work of art, which dates back to 1570, noted the Mayor of Limassol, has enormous value as it is part of the World Cultural Heritage. The creation of the representation of Titian’s “invisible work”, said Mr. Armeftis, was revealed with the use of technology and the valuable collaboration of artist Erato Hadjisavva.

 

Dr. Andreas Pittas, Member of the CREF Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the European Capital of Culture - Limassol 2030 Organization, in his greeting, stated that the presentation of the work of the great Venetian painter Titian, in Limassol, is part of the Organization's ambitious strategy to make the city the next European Capital of Culture for 2030. Dr. Pittas made special mention of the research work and the decisive contribution of Cyprus Institute's APAC Labs / STARC in the study and analysis of Titian's work, which, as he said, developed innovative methods and technologies that have literally opened up new fields of research and knowledge. This particular exhibition, Dr. Pittas indicated, presents the methodology followed in the study of Titian's work, as well as some of the unique scanning instrumentation developed in close collaboration with the C2RMF laboratories at the Louvre Museum in France.

 

Professor Stavros Malas, President of The Cyprus Institute, praised the important research work carried out at the "Andreas Pittas" Art Characterization Laboratories, which operate at the Science and Technology Research Center in Archaeology and Culture (STARC) of The Cyprus Institute, underlining their unique contributions to the study and analysis of works of art, monuments and archaeological objects. Our culture, Professor Malas noted, is our second DNA, but we do not study this DNA as much as we should. To do this, he said, we need art-loving and generous donors, who will contribute to the creation of the necessary infrastructure. The Cyprus Institute, over the past 20 years, Professor Malas emphasized, has such solid and steadfast supporters, as Dr. Andreas Pittas.

 

The Artistic Director of the Limassol 2030 – European Capital of Culture – Candidate City Organization, Eleana Alexandrou, pointed out that Limassol claims the title of the largest cultural institution in Europe, an institution that can transform the experience of our city, renew our relationship with it and strengthen the bonds between us. In a rapidly developing city like Limassol, Ms. Alexandrou noted, we need culture and the arts, the prospect for inspiration, discovery, creation, but also curiosity for the unknown, behind the obvious, to remain active, to nourish our spirit, but also to keep the cultural industry of Limassol alive and connected to other industries and sciences.