The exhibition “Agonies – Diamantis,” centered on a landmark series by Cypriot painter Adamantios Diamantis, will be shown at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki from March 29 to May 31.
The show, organized by the A. G. Leventis Gallery, Cyprus’ Press and Information Office and the Cypriot Consulate in Thessaloniki, marks the first time the exhibition travels abroad. The works were first presented in Nicosia in 2018.
The “Agonies” series emerged from the political upheavals that shaped Cyprus in the mid‑20th century, including the anti‑colonial struggle, intercommunal violence and the 1974 Turkish invasion.
Influenced partly by European modernism, Diamantis turned to a new visual language to express the tension of the era.
Although he initially envisioned an enraged bull as the central figure, the series ultimately focused on women confronting danger and protecting their families and livelihoods.
The exhibition features five of the eight works in the series along with preparatory sketches, tracing the development of the final composition “Agonies Before and After.”
Curators say the implied threat in the paintings gives them a contemporary resonance, touching on themes of displacement and uncertainty.
Visitors will also be able to view an excerpt from a new episode of the Press and Information Office’s film series “Art in the City,” dedicated to Diamantis.