Renowned engraver Hambis Tsangaris to demolish his museum in Platanisteia

Renowned Cypriot engraver Hambis Tsangaris has announced the closure and demolition of the Hambis Engraving School and Museum in the village of Platanisteia. Citing a decades-long struggle with bureaucracy and frustration over the handling of Turkish Cypriot properties, Tsangaris stated that he no longer identifies with the current state of Cyprus. He plans to return the site to the Limassol Turkish Cypriot Property Management Branch in the same condition as he received it over thirty years ago.

As part of this final act, Tsangaris intends to dismantle all additions made to the property since his arrival in 1988, including doors, windows, staircases, and various building materials, which he plans to distribute to friends. While the demolition process begins, the museum will continue its operations on a limited scale within the remaining structures. This decision marks the end of a significant cultural presence in the village, which had become a prominent landmark for visitors and locals alike due to Tsangaris's lifelong dedication to the art of engraving.