Lonely figures shrouded in black and light.

Entrapped faces and bodies deliver monologues.

Writers, artists, teachers

with their eyes sealed and with a soundless cry

they state, protest and seek…

Their souls emerge radiating light… 

The Michael Cacoyannis Foundation is hosting the Photography Exhibition “With eyes sealed to the light” by the acclaimed Italian Professor of Photography at Urbino ISIA University, Antonio Manta (1st Worldwide award), from Wednesday 15th until Thursday 31st October 2014. Also the Art Book, with the homonymous title “With eyes sealed to the light”, will be presented and the Photography Workshop “the expressive power of image from the workshop of Antonio Manta” will be hosted on Saturday October 18th 2014 from 11:00 to 14:00.

 

This exhibition has included as its subject some of the over 70 people of the arts and literary world who were involved in the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation’s action “1 minute voice” for Cyprus, in April 2013. Writers and University professors, Composers and Singers, Actors and Artists who, prompted by this initiative and with the technical support of the MCF, sent recorded messages of support to the Cypriot people and also to those beleaguered citizens of the world, following the dramatic financial events on the island.  For two days the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation was filled with those thoughts, poetry and music chosen by each individual supporter of the movement and sent as an expression of their solidarity, concurrence and their belief in the necessity of unanimity.

 

During those days, at the time of recording of these heartfelt messages, Antonio Manta’s photo workshop was set up with the aim of publishing an Art Book, the sales of which would be donated to the “Michael Cacoyannis” Ag. Anargyroi Primary School in Cyprus.

The “Michael Cacoyannis” Ag. Anargyroi Primary School in Larnaca, for the children of refugee families, was founded thanks to the donation by Michael Cacoyannis who, following what he experienced during filming of the documentary film “Attila ‘74”, wanted to personally help the victims of the Turkish invasion.  The school opened its doors on the 28th of January 1978 and until today all income from “Attila ‘74” is offered to help cover the running costs of the school.  Added to that will be the income from the sales of Antonio Manta’s Art Book “With eyes sealed to the light” whom the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation warmly thanks along with all those who kindly accepted to appear in the book.

 

Photographs of the following people, amongst others, will be on display at the exhibition and in the Art Book:

 

Antonio Manta is a professional photographer, Professor of Photography at Urbino ISIA University and a specialist in fine art printing.  He has printed the works of many renowned photographers such as:  Nino Migliori, Fulvio Roiter, Giovanni Marozzini, Tim Hetherington A., Nancy Fina, Anke Merzbach, Joe Oppedisano, Giuliana Traverso et al.

 

Antonio Manta has also worked as a photojournalist in Morocco, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda, Laos, Israel, Cambodia, Vietnam and Armenia.  He has had exhibitions held in places such as the Senate of the Italian Republic, Milan’s Photo Exhibition Centre and at the Mart Museum of Rovereto.

 

His work can also be found at the Ken-Levine Museum in New York and in private collections in Lyon and Paris.  He is an Ambassador to Hasselblad and grants authenticity certificates for companies such as Epson, Canson and Hasselblad.  Due to his extremely specialized knowledge, he organizes seminars and workshops on photography in various countries of Europe focusing on subjects such as portraits, advanced lighting techniques, colour saturation, use of Photoshop and printing etc.  In 2010 he founded a group of young professionals with whom he began the project “BAM – Bottega Antonio Manta”