VIMA Art Fair 2026 Navigates Regional Turmoil with Curatorial Depth

The second edition of VIMA Art Fair, themed 'The Waves Crashing', opened in Limassol, Cyprus, amid regional upheaval. Art Dubai's rescheduling to the same weekend forced galleries like The Third Line and NIKA Project Space to split teams across both fairs. Director Sunny Rahbar noted the logistical strain but emphasized VIMA's role as a space for regional dialogue, especially for audiences unable to travel to Dubai. Newcomer Gallery Isabelle from Dubai presented works using fish scales and coastal debris. Istanbul's Öktem Aykut navigated Turkish-Cypriot political hurdles to exhibit Renée Levi and Mert Öztekin. Curator Kostas Stasinopoulos programmed a group exhibition, performances, and film screenings that resist easy consumption, featuring Serapis Maritime's sculptural seating from used clothing bales and fishing ropes, Diogo da Cruz's whale-inspired aluminium sculptures, and Manolis D Lemos's AI-generated wave forms. Local collectives Dance House Lemesos, korai Project Space, and Sessions activated live stages. The fair also announced a Public Acquisition Programme to place works in Cypriot public collections. VIMA runs until 17 May.