For six months, women of different ethnicities from every corner of the island, either side of the dividing line, met with a common purpose, to create together, exchange experiences and build bonds of communication and cooperation.
Through the traditional art of “smili-crochet”, they made thousands of handmade flowers, transforming the creative process into a unique experience of encounter and coexistence.
The installation ‘A Thousand Hands, a Thousand Stories: Common Ground’, was born from this collective effort and is a work that highlights the power of collective creation as an act of dialogue, human connection and the cultivation of a culture of peace. The installation draws inspiration from the archaeology and common cultural heritage of Cyprus, highlighting the importance of cooperation and mutual understanding between people.
The Paphos Educational Centres, under the guidance of Mary Savva, as well as the participation of the Geroskipou Elderly Centre and the Paphos Municipality Elderly Centre, all made a significant contribution.
Savva said that what began as a challenge for joint creation evolved into a deep collective experience of connection, trust and cooperation between women from all over Cyprus.
Each handmade flower, she noted, bears the imprint of the hands that created it, being part of a large collective project that symbolises meeting and coexistence.
She also thanked all the women who participated "in this creative journey", as well as everyone who supported and contributed to the implementation of the initiative.
Savva referred to the coordinators, volunteers and women who worked "with dedication to bring the installation to life".
The installation is part of the Peace2Peace Open Air Crochet Installations project, implemented with the active support and funding of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and the Deputy Ministry of Culture, in the context of the European Days of Archaeology 2026.
Through thousands of handmade flowers and countless personal stories, the installation highlights the power of art to unite people of different backgrounds, creating a common space for meeting, dialogue and peaceful coexistence, Savva concluded.
