Eleni Kyriacou

Last updated
Eleni Kyriacou
Born (1980-06-15) 15 June 1980 (age 43)
London, UK
Nationality Greek Cypriot
Education Francis Holland School
The Bartlett at UCL
Central Saint Martins
Occupation(s)Fashion designer, activist
Years active2011-present
LabelEleni Kyriacou
Website www.elenikyriacou.com

Eleni Kyriacou (born 15 June 1980) is a Greek Cypriot fashion and costume designer who designed the costumes for the lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony, first worn for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2021, she also exposed a decades-old culture of bullying at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London.

Contents

Education and career

Kyriacou studied architecture at The Bartlett at University College London (UCL) and textile design at Central Saint Martins (CSM). [1] She was an apprentice of the late Alexander McQueen.

She is most notable for redesigning the costumes for the lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony, first worn for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. [2] [3] They were worn again for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics, the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympics, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. [4] [5] [6]

The Hellenic Olympic Committee honoured her for her contribution to the Olympic Games on 1 November 2016. [7]

Two costumes from the ceremony are now permanently housed in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Eleni Kyriacou was profiled by Bloomberg Business as a brand that moved from London to Athens amidst the Greek financial crisis. [8] She has participated in Paris Fashion Week three times and in the Athens Xclusive Designers Week. [9] In October 2022, Muyiwa Oki, then president-elect of the Royal Institute of British Architects, supported Kyriacou by wearing one of her garment designs to the Stirling Prize ceremony at the RIBA. [10]

She is also a designer for the London Sock Company. [11]

Kyriacou launched her collection Old Lace, New Life on the grounds of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens as a moving performance on 7 June 2023. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Bartlett bullying controversy

Kyriacou, who alleged being a survivor of sexist misconduct from UCL's architecture school, The Bartlett, during her studies (1998-2002), conducted an independent investigation into the school (2020-21). Her research brought forward further allegations of discrimination against the school including racism as well as sexism. The findings were published by Sarah Marsh for The Guardian on 31 May 2021. [20]

Subsequently, on 3 June 2021, UCL announced they would launch an independent investigation into the allegations made against the school. [21] On 22 July 2021, Architects' Journal announced that a group of former students and staff members had formed Bartlett United, and were poised to take legal action against the school. [22] On 1 October 2021, Architects' Journal reported that UCL were searching for a new director of the Bartlett. [23] Also in October 2021, UCL appointed an external investigator, Howlett Brown, to review culture and behaviours at the Bartlett, after more than 70 testimonies from current and former staff and students at the Bartlett were given to their own lawyers by Bartlett United. [24]

The Howlett Brown review was completed in April 2022 and on 9 June 2022, UCL publicly apologised to current and former students and staff for a decades-old "culture of unacceptable behaviour" at the Bartlett. The 119-page Howlett Brown report identified "uncomfortable truths and several ‘open secrets’ about the BSA", citing power, protectionism, a "boys' club" culture that allowed a lack of accountability, and a fear of speaking out "woven into the fabric of the BSA for a long period of time". The report's authors heard serious allegations, some dating back the early 1990s, of staff making sexist comments and verbally attacking female students, in addition to allegedly misogynistic, discriminatory, and antisemitic behaviour. Howlett Brown urged the university to investigate allegations about BSA staff further, and recommended changes to tutor hiring and staff training, plus provision of long-term counselling and support options. [25] [26] BSA director Bob Sheil stepped down early as head of the school, which also suspended some staff from student-facing and administrative duties with immediate effect. Kyriacou said: "I'm glad to see they’ve finally suspended staff members. I think they should just be fired quite frankly. I think they should be named. I think their careers should end in shame. They need to reboot the whole school, which is what the report says. I hope they do it." [27] Kyriacou later also called for compensation for those who suffered must ("UCL should look into the cases of students who were unfairly graded and see whether there is a way of awarding them their part Is") and payment of medical expenses such as the counselling fees incurred by some students. [28]

On 30 June 2022, an open letter from 24 architectural bosses, curators and academics was published. It criticised the Bartlett's publication of the Howlett Brown review, the ensuing "blacklisting" of staff and continued "Kafkaesque" investigations, and claimed there was an online "witch hunt" targeting "decent and talented teachers". [29] Kyriacou disagreed with the academics' description of the report as a "debacle", saying the "investigation was thorough, sensitively conducted, professional and sound. It brought to the surface and it very well assessed, alarming misconduct and patterns of behaviour that have gone on, without any accountability held, for an inexcusable length of time at UCL." [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellenic Armed Forces</span> Military forces of Greece

The Hellenic Armed Forces are the military forces of Greece. They consist of the Hellenic Army, the Hellenic Navy, and the Hellenic Air Force.

University College London, which operates as UCL, is a public research university in London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University of London, and is the second-largest university in the United Kingdom by total enrolment and the largest by postgraduate enrolment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Greece</span> Overview of education in Greece

Education in Greece is centralized and governed by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs at all grade levels in elementary and middle school. The Ministry exercises control over public schools, formulates and implements legislation, administers the budget, coordinates national level university entrance examinations, sets up the national curriculum, appoints public school teaching staff, and coordinates other services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British School at Athens</span> Research center in Greece

The British School at Athens (BSA) is an institute for advanced research, one of the eight British International Research Institutes supported by the British Academy, that promotes the study of Greece in all its aspects. Under UK law it is a registered educational charity, which translates to a non-profit organisation in American and Greek law. It also is one of the 19 Foreign Archaeological Institutes defined by Hellenic Law No. 3028/2002, "On the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General," passed by the Greek Parliament in 2002. Under that law the 17 accredited foreign institutes may perform systematic excavation in Greece with the permission of the government.

The opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics was held on August 13, 2004 starting at 20:45 EEST (UTC+3) at the Olympic Stadium in Marousi, Greece, a suburb of Athens. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal and ceremonial opening of this international sporting event, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes, with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation's culture and history. 72,000 spectators attended the event, with approximately 15,000 athletes from 202 countries participating in the ceremony as well. It marked the first-ever international broadcast of high-definition television, undertaken by the U.S. broadcaster NBC and the Japanese broadcaster NHK. The Games were officially opened by President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Stephanopoulos at 23:46 EEST (UTC+3).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bartlett</span>

The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, also known as The Bartlett, is the academic centre for the study of the built environment at University College London (UCL), United Kingdom. It is home to thirteen departments that have expertise in individual subfields, including the Bartlett School of Architecture, Bartlett School of Planning, Bartlett Development Planning Unit, and the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis. The Bartlett is consistently ranked the highest in Europe and the UK and among the highest in the world for the "Architecture and the Built Environment" category in major rankings. It is currently ranked the first in the world for the year 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makis Voridis</span> Greek lawyer and politician

Mavroudis (Makis) Voridis is a Greek politician and lawyer. His previous and current involvement with far-right rhetoric and past association with dictator Georgios Papadopoulos has made him a controversial figure in Greek politics.

MIG Holdings S.A. is a Greek investment company. It has acquired several companies and has changed name several times since. In 2004 it took the name Marfin Financial Group following the triple merger of Comm Group, Marfin Classic Α.Ε.Ε.Χ and Maritime and Financial Investments.

The Capodistrias Museum – Center of Capodistrian Studies (Greek: Μουσείο Καποδίστρια–Κέντρο Καποδιστριακών Μελετών) is a museum dedicated to the memory and life's work of Ioannis Kapodistrias. It is located in the area Koukouritsa of Evropouli in Corfu, Greece. Τhe museum is dedicated to the life and work of Ioannis Kapodistrias who was the First Governor of Greece, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire and a great diplomat, politician, physician.The property was donated by Maria Desylla-Kapodistria great granddaughter of Georgios Kapodistrias, younger brother of Ioannis Kapodistrias and the only one of the brothers who got married. The museum was established in 1981. Ioannis Kapodistrias' summer home in the rural area of Koukouritsa in his birthplace of Corfu, houses the museum, showcasing exhibits commemorating his life and accomplishments. Maria Desylla-Kapodistria, a former mayor of Corfu (1956–1959) and the first female mayor in Greece, donated the residence to the three primary cultural societies of Corfu. specifically for that purpose. The museum also functions as a centre for Kapodistrian and Corfiote studies.

AEK Handball Club is the handball department of the major Greek multi-sports club A.E.K. It was established in 2005. The club is commonly known in European competitions as AEK Athens HC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos</span>

Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos was a distinguished Hellenic Army Lieutenant General who served in World War I, the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, World War II and the Greek Civil War, rising to become Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff. He also served as Greece's Ambassador to Yugoslavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellenic Train</span> Train operator in Greece

Hellenic Train S.A., formerly TrainOSE S.A., is a private railway company in Greece which operates passenger and freight trains on OSE lines. Hellenic Train employs train crews, operators and manages most of the rail services throughout the Greek railway network, leasing rolling stock owned by GAIAOSE except for ETR 470 trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marianna Vardinogiannis</span> Greek activist (1937–2023)

Marianna V. Vardinogiannis was a Greek UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and an activist for the rights of children and the family, and against child sexual abuse via her Foundation for the Child and the Family. She was the President of the Elpida Association of friends of children with cancer. She was married to Greek shipping magnate Vardis Vardinogiannis.

<i>The Cheese Grater</i> British student magazine

The Cheese Grater is a student satirical and investigative magazine produced at University College London by a society of UCL Union, a students' union. The Cheese Grater publishes a articles covering student politics, news, investigations, satire and cartoons. Its stories are frequently critical of the UCL Union. It was first published in March 2004, and was named London's best student publication in the 2022 Student Publication Association awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thessaloniki railway station</span> Railway station in Thessaloniki, Greece

The Thessaloniki railway station, or Thessaloniki railway station is the main central passenger railway station and terminal of Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city. It is located in the central quarter of Xirokrini on Monastiriou Street and was inaugurated on 12 June 1961, the passenger station replaced the older and much smaller passenger station which now handles the city's cargo rail, hence the "new" sometimes used in the name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eleni Foureira</span> Albanian-born Greek singer (born 1987)

Eleni Foureira is a naturalised-Greek Albanian singer and dancer. She began her music career in 2007 as a member of the Greek girl group Mystique, pursuing a solo career after the group disbanded in 2009. She has released five studio albums since.

Eleni Chatziliadou is a Greek karateka won the gold medal in the women's kumite +68 kg event at the 2018 World Karate Championships held in Madrid, Spain. In the same year, she also won a silver medal at the 2018 Mediterranean Games and at 2018 European Karate Championships. In 2019, she won the silver medal in the women's kumite +68 kg event at the 2019 European Games held in Minsk, Belarus. She took the fifth place in the women's kumite +68 kg event at the 2021 Karate 1 Premier League in Lisbon, Portugal. As an athlete member of Karate Club Bushido Bonn, Bonn, represented the Germany, she won the bronze medal at the 2017 Karate1 Premier League held in Rotterdam. She won the bronze medal at the 2021 European Karate Championships held in Poreč, Croatia. Due she had some injury problems and missed a series of events, she did not qualify in being in the athletes of Greece at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katerina Sakellaropoulou</span> President of Greece since 2020

Katerina Sakellaropoulou is a Greek judge who has been the president of Greece since 13 March 2020. She was elected by the Hellenic Parliament to succeed Prokopis Pavlopoulos on 22 January 2020. Prior to her election as president, Sakellaropoulou served as president of the Council of State, the highest administrative court of Greece. She is the country's first female president.

Muyiwa Oki is a Nigeria-born British architect who, in September 2023, took office as the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), becoming the first black president and, at 32, its youngest.

References

  1. ↑ Stanley, Caroline (1 November 2016). "Meet Eleni Kyriacou" Archived 2018-03-07 at the Wayback Machine , UAL Alumni. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "The colours of the Greek landscape dress the Priestesses". Hellenic Olympic Committee. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Άρχισε η αντίστροφη μέτρηση για την Αφή της Ολυμπιακής Φλόγας", ΕΡΤ. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "The journey of the Olympic Flame begun". The Hellenic Olympic Committee. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Olympic Flame began its journey to Tokyo". The Hellenic Olympic Committee. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Hellenic Olympic Committee". The Hellenic Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "H EOE τίμησε τους συντελεστές των Τελετών της Φλόγας". Hellenic Olympic Committee (in Greek). 2 November 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Petrakis, Maria (30 April 2015). "Ground Zero in Athens Provides Refuge for Londoner Fleeing Costs", Bloomberg. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Eleni Kyriacou", Athens Xclusive Designers Week. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Crook, Lizzie (7 November 2022). "Eleni Kyriacou captures experience of trauma and Bartlett activism in Time to Rebuild collection". Dezeen. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Eleni Kyriacou" Archived 2018-03-07 at the Wayback Machine , London Sock Company. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Museum Performance | Old Lace, New Life", National Archaeological Museum. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Old Lace, New Life", Eleni Kyriacou. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Tsoni, Paula (8 June 2023). "Greek Influence on History of Lacemaking Highlighted in Athens Exhibition", Greek Reporter. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  15. ↑ ""Ξεχασμένες Δαντέλες, Νέα Πνοή" | Εντυπωσιακή έναρξη της έκθεσης στον Κήπο του Εθνικού Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου", Madame Figaro. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ελένη Κυριάκου, η σχεδιάστρια που μεταμορφώνει παλιές δαντέλες σε σύγχρονα ρούχα -Απίστευτα σχέδια", Iefimerida. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "«Ξεχασμένες Δαντέλες, Νέα Πνοή» - Εντυπωσιακή έναρξη της έκθεσης στον Κήπο του Εθνικού Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου", Skai.gr. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "«Ξεχασμένες Δαντέλες, Νέα Πνοή» – Εντυπωσιακή έναρξη της έκθεσης στον Κήπο του Εθνικού Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου", Naftemporiki. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Μια παράσταση για τις «Ξεχασμένες Δαντέλες» στο Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο", LIFO. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Marsh, Sarah (31 May 2021). "Ex-students complain of sexism and racism at UCL architecture school", The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "Tackling unacceptable behaviour in our community", UCL. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Ing, Will (22 July 2021). "Bullying Bartlett: abused ex-students are poised to take legal action", Architects' Journal. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  23. ↑ Ing, Will (1 October 2021) "UCL begins search for new director of the Bartlett", Architects' Journal. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  24. ↑ Ing, Will (20 October 2021). "Bullying Bartlett: investigation launches as more victims come forward". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  25. ↑ Abdul, Geneva (9 June 2022). "UCL apologises for 'bullying and sexual misconduct' at architecture school". Guardian. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "University College London apologies for school's 'boys' club' culture". BBC News. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  27. ↑ Jessel, Ella (10 June 2022). "Bartlett director Bob Sheil steps down early amid bullying scandal". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  28. ↑ Hopkirk, Elizabeth (4 July 2022). "Bartlett whistleblower seeks compensation for victims of bullying and 'sexist marking'". Building Design. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  29. 1 2 Ing, Will (1 July 2022). "Bartlett investigation has encouraged 'witch-hunt', say academics". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 8 July 2022.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.