Efforts are underway at a high level to find a solution that will ensure the continuation of the operation of the Hambis School and the Museum of Engraving in Platanisteia, following the public confrontation between the engraver and the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service and his announcement that he intends to demolish the buildings, in order to hand them over as he received them in 1994.
On Thursday, October 8, intense consultations were held in Nicosia, in which the Minister of Interior Constantinos Ioannou, the Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Culture Giorgos Papageorgiou, officials, representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Agency and Giorgos Tsangaris, president of the non-profit company "Hambis Engraving School – Museum" participated.
Hambis Tsangaris himself appears optimistic, but without considering that the case has been closed, who in a message to his friends and supporters in Cyprus and abroad states that the latest developments leave room for a positive outcome. He clarifies, however, that he will wait for a reasonable period of time before deciding whether to proceed with the dismantling of the facilities.
"The mood was positive and a solution began to be launched," he notes, adding that he hopes the intentions will be sincere and that the long-standing adventure will end.
At the same time, in response to the announcement of the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service and a statement by the Minister of Interior, Hambis disputes the reports that the Service has contributed financially to the maintenance of the professional premises of the School and the Museum, arguing that no such repairs were carried out. He also brings back the issue of humidity in the Museum's archive, which he attributes to a leak from a neighbouring house.
"How is such a mutation in behaviour possible"
In his new announcement, dated October 9, Hambis initially refers in a positive way to the content of the announcement of the Service, expressing his satisfaction with the recognition of his contribution.
"I read the announcement of the Turkish Cypriot Property Service for the buildings of the Hambis Engraving School-Museum in Platanisteia and I enjoyed its wording. I wondered how such a mutation in the behaviour of its officers is possible, and I immediately understood that this civilized announcement comes from Nicosia," he says characteristically, contrasting the attitude he attributes to the central Service with the treatment he received from officials of the Branch in Limassol.
At the same time, it thanks for the recognition that it has invested significant time and financial resources in the reformation of the premises and their conversion into a point of reference.
The point on which Hambis strongly disagrees with the announcement of the Service concerns the reference that in previous years repairs were approved and carried out both in the Turkish Cypriot residence granted to him and in the business premises he uses, with financial assistance from the Service and with the aim of maintaining and strengthening the work of the School.
"Repairs were never made with the financial assistance of the Turkish Cypriot Property Service on the premises of the Hambis Engraving School – Museum in Platanisteia", he categorically claims.
He estimates that the report may concern works in a neighboring house, which included housing part of the building and the construction of a sewer pit, in an effort to address the problem of water inflow in the Museum's archive. He speaks, however, of waste of funds and manipulations by officials of the technical services of the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Branch of Limassol which, in his opinion, did not solve the problem.
"If the Guardian is interested, I have a lot to say. However, they should not write that repairs were approved and carried out in the business premises it uses, with the financial assistance of the Service", he notes.
"Hubris, Mr. Minister!"
Hambis also turns against a statement by the Minister of the Interior on the show "Morning Inspection" of Politis 107.6, according to which the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service has contributed financially, from 2023 onwards, much more than he did to the maintenance of the premises. "Hubris, Mr. Minister! They didn't inform you correctly," he replies.
He clarifies that he appreciates what was done on the part of the Minister, but maintains that the amounts spent by the Service on work on the neighbouring house are minimal compared to what he and his colleagues invested to create the School and the Museum.
In fact, he invites the Minister to visit the facilities in Platanisteia, so that he can see for himself the size of the investment.
At the same time, he brings back the problem of humidity to the Museum's archive, arguing that it is not natural moisture but a leak from the neighbouring house. He states that he had informed the Minister about it in their last meeting, without, as he claims, a solution having been given to date.
Hambis also states that the Turkish Cypriot residence was repaired about two decades ago, while in recent years it has been showing significant damage. He states, however, that he does not address for repairs due to, as he describes it, the hostile attitude of officials of the Branch in Limassol.
The lease and the possibility of termination
Regarding the transfer of the lease to the non-profit company "Hambis Engraving School – Museum", the engraver disputes the Service's report that the request was examined in a spirit of goodwill, citing the repeated negative responses he received.
At the same time, it states that it appreciates the recognition by the Service of the cultural and social dimension of the activity of the School and the Museum. "How nice if they thought like that in Limassol...", he comments.
The announcement of the Service, which concludes that it is in consultation with Hambis to find the best solution, now leaves open the possibility of a settlement. He states that he finds it difficult to believe climate change, noting: "I read them and I think I dream... Otherwise they used to me in Limassol... If it is not a dream, it will be seen..."
He will wait, but not indefinitely
The new announcement does not constitute a revocation of the decision announced by Hambis on October 5 to dismantle the buildings and make the building materials available free of charge to his friends. On the contrary, he insists that he will give time to developments, without committing that he will wait indefinitely.
In a previous message, in which he thanked those who expressed their support, he said that the spontaneous mobilization of his friends and supporters contributed to the acceleration of developments. At the same time, he informed those who had already contacted him to receive materials from the buildings that they would have to wait a little longer.
"We'll see. We will wait a reasonable period of time," he said, warning that if efforts do not lead to a solution, he will proceed as he had originally announced.
What is now required is to turn the consultations into a specific arrangement for the lease, in order to ensure the continuation of the operation of an important cultural institution and a stable pole of cultural decentralization in the Cypriot countryside. The Hambis School and Museum of Printmaking are not only a place of artistic creation, but also host a collection of thousands of engravings of international cultural value.
The prospect of a solution remains open. Whether it will prove feasible will be seen by the next moves of those involved, with Hambis now stating that he is willing to wait, but not give up on the possibility of deconstructing the facilities.
