Art Exhibition in the Context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026
As part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus presents Palimpsest Worlds, a multidisciplinary art exhibition hosted at the renowned Pulchri Studio in The Hague.
Artists: Toula Liasi, Elena Parouti, Irene Stavrou, Eva Stavrou
Venue: Lange Voorhout 15, 2514 EA The Hague
Dates: 26 March – 26 April 2026
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 12:00–17:00
The opening evening will feature a live performance by Cypriot flautist and composer Eva Stavrou, presenting her original composition Breaths.
An Artistic Metaphor for Europe
Palimpsest Worlds is an artistic metaphor for European identity itself — a coexistence of multiple voices, histories, and cultures sharing a common present. The exhibition unfolds as a parallel and interactive journey through time, bridging past and present, tradition and contemporary creation.
The exhibition offers an artistic commentary on cultural diversity and the continuous dialogue between heritage and modern expression. It reflects Europe as an open narrative — constantly rewritten, layered, and reinterpreted.
Visual artist Toula Liasi, in collaboration with the 4ELEGY Project (Elena Parouti and Irene Stavrou), explores the concept of the palimpsest through layered compositions in which traces of history remain visible, engaging in dialogue with the present. Eva Stavrou’s music functions as a sonic bridge, enriching the visual dimension and enhancing the exhibition’s multilayered character.
Together, the artists highlight different aspects of Cypriot history, presenting a rich cultural identity shaped by memory, displacement, craftsmanship, and resilience.
The Artists
Toula Liasi approaches the palimpsest as a metaphor for memory. Her photographic and painted collages, part of her project Synchronising History, draw inspiration from her ancestral home in Agia Triada, in the northern part of Cyprus — an area under Turkish control since 1974. Through textiles and family objects, she transforms personal memory into universal reflection. Liasi studied Fine Arts in Athens and at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague, where she has lived and worked since 1980.
The 4ELEGY Project, founded in 2021 by architect Elena Parouti and communications professional Irene Stavrou, reinterprets Cypriot archaeological mosaic patterns into dynamic textile and three-dimensional forms. Their work creates a dialogue between material, movement, and historical continuity.
Eva Stavrou is one of the most active flautists of her generation and specialises in contemporary music. She has performed across Europe and collaborated with leading composers. Her debut solo album is scheduled for release in 2026.
Palimpsest Worlds promises to be a compelling cultural highlight of the Cyprus EU Presidency.
