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Stelios Tzivas

Stelios is studying (BA) Fine Art at Kingston University. He is a Cypriot artist and uses stencils as a means to explore his personal and political concerns. His works are usually inspired by themes of alienation and globalization as well as pointing out the uniqueness that characterizes individuality. 

"Strength Comes After Unity"

Most of Stelios Tziva's works reflect his personal passion for peace and unity that can derive from a collective idea in which everyday people can come together in achieving the same goal and rising above problems or obstacles. Their weapons are determination and a will to help others. In his collaborative project "Strength after Unity" Stelios proved that this is not something unrealistic but a decision.

 Stelio’s project is concerned with the recent events in Cyprus and the sudden recession and cuts. Being inspired by "Cyprus Aid", a Cypriot Charity that strives to help poor families, Stelios decided to design this project in the UK in order to inform and raise awareness of the condition in Cyprus.
In this attempt, language played a critical role in Stelio's work, not in the final result, rather than in the process. He used cut-outs from different Greek and English newspapers in order to inform participants and set the mood.
The project was a collaboration of people from different countries and backgrounds that not necessarily knew each other. Stelios showed them how to do the stencils and everyone worked without knowing what the final project would look like.
The final product was a picture of people helping at "Cyprus Aid". The colours of the stencil, which are black and white, as well as the shapes and the idealism that the stencil projects, could remind the elements present in propaganda art. Although Stelio's intention was not to support his political ideas but the power of unity and collaboration, these ideas are still explored within a political frame.
The pictures and cuts-out that inspired Stelios, are within political text and the language he uses is both political, informative and makes space for democratic discourse and conversation.

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