A photographic exhibition titled Moikanes (Mohicans) will open on July 3 at Serena Beach in Protaras, showcasing a unique tradition among teenage boys from the Kokkinochoria villages near Famagusta. The exhibition by Cypriot visual artist Nikolas Louka documents the elaborate mohawk hairstyles that young men prepare before starting compulsory service in the National Guard. This ritual involves months of hair growth and a collective styling process using materials like glue, reeds, and string, often lasting six to eight hours.

The tradition, believed to have originated in the 1980s, is portrayed as a social rite of passage marking the transition from rebellious adolescence to military duty. Louka’s photographs capture these hairstyles as temporary sculptural statements made to be noticed and photographed before the head is shaved for military service. The exhibition will be open from midday until midnight and will conclude with a party at the venue.

Nikolas Louka, who studied photography in Athens and later worked internationally in London, has been developing projects in Cyprus since his return in 2024. His work often explores cultural and social themes, with Moikanes highlighting a distinctive Cypriot youth tradition.