The Cyprus Movements Archive contains mainly text-based documents within which photographs about Cyprus make sporadic appearances. Upon examining this group of photographs what immediately becomes apparent is that the political, social and cultural radicalness endorsed by the textual is not welcomed in the photographic. More often than not therefore, the meaning of these photographs remains ambiguous. In this presentation I delve into three dominant photographic narratives about Cyprus as these recur within Greek-Cypriot public education, the context common amongst most Greek-Cypriots for ‘learning’ Cyprus photographically. Through a juxtaposition of examples from these dominant narratives and snapshots from the Archive I consider the cultural work assigned to photographs about Cyprus by local radical groups; and invite speculations on what a Cyprus Radical Visual Archive may look like.

Despo Pasia studied Education, Anthropology, Psychology and Museum Studies. She teaches Art in public primary schools and designs and implements educational programs for historic, archaeological and art museums and cultural organisations. She has worked as education associate at the State Gallery of Contemporary Cypriot Art and the Cyprus Museum and as research and education associate for international research projects on History, Archaeology, Cultural and Digital Heritage. She also co-creates exhibitions and museum interventions. Her recent research examined the experiences of young people’s encounters with historical photographs. Her research interests focus on hybrid exhibitions, historical photographic collections, museums, cultural heritage education and the intersection of historical photographs with performance and the audiovisual arts.