Digital Archaeology and Imaginary Palaces: Theodoulos Polyviou’s Exhibition at Julia Stoschek Foundation

Berlin and Düsseldorf’s simultaneous art circuit is hosting a captivating double exhibition (Double Feature) until 2 February 2026, taking art lovers on a profound journey between technology and memory. The Julia Stoschek Foundation (JSF) is bringing the third chapter of Cypriot artist Theodoulos Polyviou’s ongoing “Transmundane Economies” series—first begun in 2022—to Germany for the very first time. This comprehensive solo presentation reconfigures Cyprus’s cultural heritage through a digital lens across an interdisciplinary spectrum of video, sculpture, archival objects, and photography.

Polyviou employs advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and CGI as archaeological excavation tools in his practice, aiming to fill the gaps and lost narratives in Cyprus’s history. Through this speculative approach, he seeks to move beyond nationalist agendas by reviving heritage not merely as physical remnants but as something reanimated in the digital realm. Questioning the island’s complex formation process and nation-state identity, the artist offers viewers an alternative memory field woven from pixels rather than dusty historical shelves.

At the centre of the exhibition stands the video installation “A Palace in Exile,” which had its initial premiere in Milan and has now been specially adapted to the architectural spaces of JSF’s Berlin and Düsseldorf galleries. By simulating the galleries’ own structures, the installation draws visitors into an experience where the boundary between physical space and digital representation becomes blurred. Each city’s presentation is supported by a distinct selection of sculptures and archival materials, creating two different sensory experiences born from the same body of work—thus also revealing how the art evolves in response to its site.

Curated by Line Ajan and Lisa Long, this “Double Feature” series serves as an illuminating manifesto on how cultural heritage can be preserved—and enriched through speculative future design—in a digitizing world. Polyviou’s meticulous research and technological mastery bring Cyprus’s historical complexities into dialogue with today’s artistic discourse, inviting viewers to rethink concepts of identity, belonging, and memory.

Visit Information

Venues: JSF Berlin & JSF Düsseldorf (Schanzenstraße 54)

Dates: Until 2 February 2026

Artist: Theodoulos Polyviou

Curators: Line Ajan & Lisa Long