New Forms, New Voices: Adonis Antoniou
Adonis Antoniou presents a body of work that moves beyond traditional representation to physically embody the landscape of Cyprus; rather than depicting the island through conventional imagery, Antoniou collects minerals, soil, and organic matter directly from the land to create natural pigments. By layering these raw materials onto the canvas, the artworks transform painting into an act of return, where the territory is not merely shown, but re-presented as matter and presence. This approach allows the land itself to become the medium, exploring complex questions of identity, memory, and belonging through texture and substance.
The resulting pieces serve as a tangible archive of the island's history, inviting viewers to engage with the physical reality of the place, instead of a visual approximation. Through this method, Antoniou challenges the viewer to consider how material objects carry memory, and how art can bridge the gap between abstract concepts of home and the physical ground we stand on. The work reflects his broader artistic goal of addressing global issues such as borders and division, by grounding them in the shared, elemental experience of the earth.
Adonis Antoniou is a Cypriot-Syrian artist, whose multicultural heritage deeply informs his exploration of freedom through abstraction. After studying Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona starting in 2014, he developed a practice that uses art as a tool for personal liberation and social critique. His installations and paintings consistently challenge perceptions of borders and violence, encouraging viewers to reflect on a world beyond division.
125 Space is proud to present New Forms, New Voices, a group exhibition showcasing the work of eleven emerging artists selected from a competitive open call that highlighted the vibrant and diverse talent currently shaping the local art scene.
As a platform committed to supporting emerging talent, 125 Space provides a professional context in which new artists can present their work and engage with collectors, curators, and the wider creative community. New Forms, New Voices reflects a dedicated interest in how these artists are redefining visual language through rigorous experimentation, material exploration, and critical engagement with contemporary conditions. While the selected works respond, both explicitly and intuitively, to urgent questions of identity, place, and cultural inheritance, they remain firmly open to broader global dialogues, demonstrating how new voices contribute to ongoing conversations within the international artistic community.
Exhibition opening
Friday, 5th of June 2026 at 18:00
Exhibition duration
6th of June – 18th of July 2026