Children's Painting Workshop

A children's painting workshop as part of the 'Harmoni' exhibition by Japanese visual artist Chiaki Kamikawa, based in Paphos. The workshop is an interactive creative meeting designed to introduce children to the art of storytelling and illustration of folklore stories. The exhibition runs from 24 October to 31 October 2026 at the historic Khan Ibrahim in Paphos, as part of the Municipality of Paphos' cultural programme 'Visual Arts'.

Chiaki Kamikawa works in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and large-scale installations. Her art bridges Japanese tradition with European art history, creating parallel worlds full of narratives where everyday life, mythology and fantasy meet. Through detailed paintings, watercolours and fabric sculptures, she explores the fine line between the real world and the unknown, bringing landscapes, interiors and still-life compositions to life with spirits and imaginary characters.

Born and raised in Japan, Kamikawa is deeply inspired by Japanese animism — the belief that all elements of nature, objects, and even words carry spirit and deserve respect. Having lived and worked in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Cyprus for over 25 years, the distance from her homeland gave her a new perspective on Japanese folklore. By placing these traditional Japanese spirits in Western environments, she revives ancient stories in a contemporary framework.

"Art is a universal language where different traditions do not divide us, but enrich us," says Kamikawa. "By bringing forms of Japanese folklore into dialogue with Greek mythology against the backdrop of Cypriot nature, this series of works aims to bring smiles and demonstrate that a peaceful, harmonious coexistence of cultures is possible."

Kamikawa's works carefully combine Japanese symbols with European artistic traditions. Some of her compositions pay homage to 17th-century Dutch still-life painting — adding playful spirits with smiling eyes to classic compositions — while also being inspired by the vibrant colours and soft forms of Henri Matisse.

Living in Cyprus since 2007, Kamikawa frequently incorporates Mediterranean landscape, local traditions and Cypriot craftsmanship into her work. In this exhibition, visitors will discover connections between familiar local places and her global journey — such as the banana plants of Kissonerga appearing next to a traditional ramen restaurant from her birthplace, Yokohama.

Meanwhile, her recent series of works centred on Aphrodite and her birthplace at Petra tou Romiou connects Cypriot geography with mythological narrative. Combining the goddess of love with sea creatures from Japanese folklore, Kamikawa shares a message about love, natural beauty and respect for the environment. Through this unique blend of Japanese spirituality and Western art, she invites us to observe the world around us more carefully and discover the quiet, magical forces hidden in everyday life.