With the interpersonal exhibition “The Unknown Island“, the artists Sofia Kyriakou and Lia Petrou invite the public to an adventure inside and outside the confines of the exhibition space, starting with the short story of the Nobel laureate Portuguese writer José Saramago “The History of the Unknown Island“.
Centered on the idea of the Unknown Island as a symbol of the search for utopia in art and literature, the two artists create a dialogue on our stereotypical perceptions about touring. On the one hand they examine the expectations caused by sea travel and on the other hand they highlight how our relationship with the world is shaped through them. Their artistic research explores the postcolonial landscape, migration and political geography, and highlights ecological concerns and issues of identity. Against the handiwork and anticipation of Homer’s Penelope inspired by Petrou’s embroidered artworks and ceramic constructions, stand the strange jewelry and sculptural islands made of microplastics by Kyriakou, as comments on consumerism and the destruction of the planet.
The exhibition starts at the Metro Station “Municipal Theatre” of Piraeus and is developed in the Historical Library of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. There, the two artists illuminate Lady Hamilton’s correspondence with Admiral Nelson and trigger associations around rare books, maps, compasses, bone ships and fragments from the Foundation’s magnificent collection.
This unique trip will be accompanied by a catalogue that includes photographs of the works and the curatorial text by Gelly Gryntaki, a theoretical wandering text by Nikitas Siniosoglou, and unpublished material from Jose Saramago’s diaries translated by Athena Psyllia.
The exhibition takes place in the framework of Sea Week 2024 of the Μunicipality of Piraeus, with the noble support of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, STASY, Elliniko Metro, Saramago Foundation, Embassy of Portugal, Kastaniotis Εditions, Vorres Museum and the noble sponsorship of the Metropolitan Hospital and Angelicoussis Foundation.
Curation: Gelly Gryntaki
Opening: Friday 24th of May 2024, 18:30-21:00.
Locations: The Historical Library of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, 2as Merarchias 36 & Aktis Moutsopoulou, Piraeus 185 35 and Metro Station “Dimotiko Theatro”, ticket office level.
Exhibition duration: 24th of May – 7th of June 2024.
Visiting hours: Monday – Friday 09:00-17:00,
Saturday 25th of May 12:00-18:00, Sunday 26th of May 11:00-14:00.
Saturday 1st of June 12:00-18:00.