Hambis Printmaking Museum

In 2008, Hampis opened the Hampis Printmaking Museum in Platanisteia, with a collection of a few hundreds of works all coming from donations. Hambis generously donated his small personal collection and some of his prints, along with printmakers from Cyprus and Greece who came to the museum to give the first modern works to the collection, as well as friends collectors – who enthusiastically donated one or more works from their collection. Over the years, the donations have continued from loyal friends of the museum who come and visit the museum, as well as from Cypriot and foreign printmakers, enriching the collection of the museum. The temporary exhibitions held by the museum are also a good opportunity for donations by the exhibiting artists.

With very little financial resources available, the museum also started to buy prints of important artists. A visit to Hambis Printmaking Museum is also an opportunity for tourists to get acquainted with the Cypriot and European printmaking which usually comes in second place in the big museums abroad. The exhibits change on an annual basis, temporary exhibitions open, giving the opportunity to present various thematic aspects of the collection. Sometimes they also open up drawers to respond to a visitor’s intense desire to see a work that is not exhibited. Hambis Printmaking Museum seems to be original because of the conviction that the collection must be protected but above all that it must be offered to the public’s direct gaze.

In 2019, the Hampis Municipal Printmaking Museum opens in Nicosia, which is located in a listed building within the Venetian walls, in the historic center of Nicosia, just a few meters from the Famagusta Gate, surrounded by important Museums, theatres and municipal cultural areas.

At the Museum visitors have the opportunity to become familiar with the historical course of printmaking, its techniques, materials as well as printing presses through a selection from the rich collection of the Museum that exceeds 3,000 original printmaking works. Exhibition includes prints of all techniques and methods of printmaking by International and Cypriot artists from the 16th century until today, old books and maps, tools of all printmaking techniques and engraved plates of various techniques with their prints. The Museum organizes workshops, educational programs, lectures and temporary exhibitions of contemporary printmaking.

Hampis has been showing the way. Art is not for few but for all. Our tradition, our roots are the main support so that we don’t get lost. At the same time, Hampi’s extensive research work on traditional fairy tales and goblins and his related illustrated publications constitute a treasure of heritage that today is spread everywhere in education, and throughout Cyprus and abroad. Without the work of Habis, these treasures would probably have been lost.