Limassol is developing very rapidly, especially in recent years.
More and more original residential complexes appear in the city, which stand out favorably against the sun-wrenched landscape. For example, the Art Square Residences.
In the center of Limassol, but away from the hustle and bustle of the city - that is how you can characterize this unique project.
The modern residential complex is located in a very prestigious and quiet neighborhood of Katholiki. In walking distance from it, there are several private schools, kindergartens, and learning centers. Therefore, Art Square Residences is an ideal option, first of all, for families with children. This category of buyers in the complex provides luxury 3-bedroom apartments with an area of 125 m2. Art Square Residences also has a place for those who need a comfortable 1-bedroom apartment or a larger 2-bedroom apartment: highly qualified professionals, young couples and adults whose children have grown up and have long lived separately.
Art Square Residences consists of four 6-story buildings, two of which will be commissioned at the end of 2024. The highlight of the complex is its unusual appearance. The thing is that in the realization of the project takes part specially invited Italian street art artist Francesco Camillo Giorgino, better known under the pseudonym MILLO. He is creating a collection of paintings celebrating the beauty of Cyprus' nature and its people directly on the walls of the buildings in Art Square. We of course couldn't pass by such an event, so there we went to meet MILLO and talk about creativity, street art and his role in the Art Square Residences project.
Mural Beauty, Art Square, Limassol
- Good afternoon! Tell us how you got into the world of street art, how old were you?
Hello! It happened quite unexpectedly. In the beginning, I liked to paint on canvases and more standard surfaces. But about 15 years ago I decided to try creating a drawing on a wall. From that moment on, I fully immersed myself in street art and never stopped making murals. I was 29 years old at the time.
- Were your parents supportive of your hobby?
I was born in 1979 in a very small town in the south of Italy. In this area, at least when I was a teenager, art was not seen as a real job, more like a hobby. I had been drawing since I was five years old, however I had never attended art school. My parents saw that I was creative and passionate about art, so I was not hindered and certainly not forbidden. But, knowing how they strive to provide me with a comfortable and happy life, at the age of 18, instead of attending an art academy, I started studying architecture. And you know, I liked this direction very much. Nevertheless, a few years after receiving my diploma, I accidentally returned to my true vocation, which I am still passionate about.
- In what year did you paint your first serious mural? Where is it located?
I've painted a lot of places. But if you have to dig deeper and remember the first quality work, I would say it was at the Memorie Urbane street art festival in Italy, around 2010.
- Is there a difference between street art and graffiti?
Yes, there is a difference between street art, graffiti and muralism. All these directions of art can be found on the streets of cities, but each has its own important distinctive features.
- Your works are made in a unique signature style, tell us more about it.
My murals are characterized by a chaotic black-and-white cityscape, depicting streets, cars, or buildings, where two characters, a bit clumsy and disproportionate, live their lives. At the same time, each seemingly simple drawing has its hidden meanings. For example, the overall landscape is our current environment. We live in cities that have lost their harmony and where we feel more and more alone. My characters, because of their size, seem to take back the space they deserve. They make up the purest part of us. The one that is still able to dream and wonder. The characters on my murals represent the messages I want to convey to people.
- Name the hardest and easiest job you've had to do.
In 2017, I had the opportunity to work in Shanghai. It was a very challenging project! The mural I painted then was 50 meters high. It was the first and largest mural in Asia. In general, all my works are not easy to execute. At least, the process of creating them is quite complex and energy-consuming. For me, the work starts from the moment I step into my apartment. Sometimes I have to fly with two or three connections to get to my destination, and then work with jetlag because of time zone changes, climbing on a crane..... It's a huge workload. But it's definitely what I love the most.
- What inspires you? How do you overcome creative crises?
I try to be inspired by everything around me, from the news on the radio to the stories of my friends. I just let these events settle for a while and then extract their altered form from my imagination. I've never had a real creative crisis. It can be hard to focus sometimes, though. In those moments, I just stop painting and take a day off.
Mural Wisdom, Art Square, Limassol
- You are currently in Cyprus at the invitation of Makespace Development Ltd, which is building a unique residential complex Art Square Residences in the center of Limassol. Did you immediately agree to take part in this ambitious project?
I quickly agreed to take part in the project as it was the first time in my career that a developer had designed a complex that would bring art to the masses, not just to please those who would buy apartments in it. I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to choose from various options as to where to place my murals on the buildings. This is truly a unique project in Cyprus.
Aslan Kipov (Art Square developer) and Millo
- For our small island it is just a unique case of a street art artist painting on a building under construction. Have you already had similar experiences in other countries?
I have already painted on buildings that were undergoing major renovations. But the buildings were actually already in existence... so I can say this is a first.
- You completed two murals at the Art Square Residences. It was very impressive. It's certainly never been done in Cyprus before! How many of your paintings will appear on the walls of the residential complex? What is the idea behind the overall composition?
The complex will be built during this year and next year. A total of 8 murals will appear. All of them will be intertwined with each other. The idea is to combine the pure nature of Cyprus with modern urban life. I will create different images with different meanings. But I don't want to spoil which ones yet.
- Is there a dream project that you would like to realize one day?
I would like to get back into some of the areas of art that I used to do. I want to continue to develop my creativity.
- Francesco, thank you for the conversation. We wish you creative success and more interesting works in the future.
Thank you too. It was a pleasure talking to you!
Properties available for sale in Art Square Residences.
Interesting: Watch Maxim Arte's video interview with Millo.
Read also:
- Cyprus Developers Alliance (CDA Group): Affordable Luxury in Cyprus
- Elite Island Properties: Continuing the Middle East Tradition in Cyprus
- Larnaca Airport: The History of Cyprus' Main Air Gateway
- Introducing Makespace Development Ltd: A Creative and Professional Property Developer in Cyprus
- How to buy real estate in Cyprus: A Complete Guide
