A BUCKET IN BETWEEN US, 2011

‘A Bucket In Between Us’ was an installation with charcoal, shown at the Old Power House Art Centre, Paphos in 2011. Charcoal embodies two opposing symbols, distraction and survival. The work is based on the theory of Conflict and Unity of Opposites and examines issues of violence, social conflicts and war. 

Rinos Stefani found in charcoal the material and conceptual characteristics to express this idea. The question of Conflict and Unity of Opposites  was introduced by Greek philosopher Heraclitus. He uses the succession of opposites as a foundation for change. Hence, charcoal as a material embodies two opposing symbols. On the one hand, its black color evokes conflict, destruction and death. On the other hand it refers to cooking of food, nourishment and survival of human beings. In fact, charcoal was once a living tree. Further more, charcoal as a drawing material becomes a medium of human communication. In short, the ultimate opposites – life and death – coexist in the same object.

The ‘A Bucket In Between Us’ examines issues of violence

Theorist Christodoulos Callinos notes: During the 1990’s Rinos Stefani developed a series of art actions which he called “Praxeis”. These “Praxeis” included mainly happenings and installation. In the exhibition “Visual Paphos 2011”, in the Power House Art Center, Rinos Stefani presented a Praxis installation. He gave it the enigmatic title “A Bucket in Between Us” and he used mainly charcoal.

The traditions of Fluxus, art actions and happenings had very few followers in Cypriot art. Rinos Stefani though, an artist with radical characteristics, seems to have found in this tradition something which suits his idiosyncrasy.

 

The  ‘A Bucket In Between Us’ embarks from the concept of Unity of Opposites and examines issues of violence, conflicts and war. These are issues which the artist has been examining in his painting as well as in his Praxeis.

Later on in the same year Rinos Stefani did the Charcoal Project in the Buffer Zone of the Tylliria area, Cyprus.

 

 

A mount of charcoal, a table and a red bucket

A Bucket In Between Us, 2011
charcoal, table, bucket
Old Power House Palia Electriki Municipal Art Centre, Pafos

A mount of charcoal, a table and a red bucket

A Bucket In Between Us, 2011
charcoal, table, bucket
Old Power House Palia Electriki, Pafos

A mount of charcoal, a table and a red bucket

A Bucket In Between Us, 2011
charcoal, table, bucket
Old Power House Palia Electriki Municipal Art Centre, Pafos

A mount of charcoal, a table and a red bucket

A Bucket In Between Us, 2011
charcoal, table, bucket
Old Power House Palia Electriki Municipal Art Centre, Pafos