Author: Alexandra

The Leros Project 2025: A cultural convergence in the Aegean

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Leros, an island steeped in history and architectural charm, is poised once again to host The Leros Project, a dynamic international art exhibition curated by the Perasma art platform. As the 2025 edition unfolds, it promises to be an immersive experience, blending contemporary art, history, and the island’s unique cultural identity.

A Platform for art and dialogue

The Leros Project is more than just an exhibition—it’s an evolving dialogue between art and place. Each year, artists from around the world are invited to participate in a residency on the island, creating works inspired by Leros’ layered history. Previous editions have explored themes of time, memory, and the interplay between land and sea, with notable contributors such as William Kentridge, Goshka Macuga, and Cevdet Erek.

For Summer 2025, the project expands further, featuring a curated exhibition alongside exclusive events, performances, and private gatherings. The initiative fosters meaningful exchanges between artists, collectors, and cultural thought leaders, all while engaging with Leros’ local community.

Building on the success of previous editions, the 2025 edition will feature a carefully curated exhibition alongside exciting performances, private dinners, and exclusive events. The project will continue to engage the island’s local community alongside an international audience of influential collectors, art patrons, and cultural figures from around the world.

A premier destination for art and culture

As Leros continues to grow as a significant hub for art and culture, the 2025 edition of the project is expected to draw increased attention. This will further establish Leros as a premier destination for international audiences deeply engaged in art and culture during the summer season.

In the media

More information about The Leros Project 2025 here.

Zeus+Dione has entered into a strategic partnership with Halcyon Equity Partners S.C.A. SICAR

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Zeus+Δione, Greece’s premier lifestyle brand, renowned for celebrating cultural heritage through sophisticated and high-quality creations, is proud to announce a strategic investment by the Growth Private Equity Fund, Halcyon Equity Partners S.C.A. SICAR.

Halcyon Equity Partners will serve as a catalyst for Zeus+Δione’s growth, propelling the brand’s global expansion through the strategic establishment of physical locations on an international scale. With their strategic vision, extensive global network and industry expertise, Halcyon aims to enhance the brand’s presence and solidify its standing within the global fashion industry.

Founded in 2013, Zeus+Δione has been established as an authentic “heritage” brand with a strong presence in both domestic and international markets. Offering a diverse range of products, including apparel, accessories, swimwear, footwear, jewellery, and a recently launched premium homeware collection, the brand emulsifies contemporary design with the revival of traditional craftsmanship, local production, and minimalist aesthetics. Drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, history, and the arts, it honours its cultural roots while embracing modernity. The appointment of internationally acclaimed designer Marios Schwab as Creative Director in 2020 has further refined and elevated the brand’s design ethos.

The investment from Halcyon will enable Zeus+Δione to build on its strong commitment to creativity, sustainability, craftsmanship, innovation and social impact. Halcyon Equity Partners’ investment will act as catalyst in the Company’s growth by accelerating the brand’s international expansion in existing and new key luxury markets, to further grow its product categories and accessories, and strengthen its online and omni-channel presence.

Dimitra Kolotoura, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeus+Δione, remarked:
“The foundation of Zeus+Δione was built on our love for Greek heritage and the desire to showcase it through contemporary, high-quality creations. We share common values with Halcyon Equity Partners, such as integrity, authenticity, sustainability, and innovation. With this strategic partnership, we co-create a vision to elevate Greek creativity to the global forefront while expanding our international reach, staying true to the values that define us”.

Eleni Bathianaki, Managing Partner of Halcyon Equity Partners S.C.A. SICAR, stated:
“Zeus+Δione encapsulates our core investment strategy of investing in “the Best of Greece.” While cross-analyzing the global investment mobility and trend in the fashion industry, we recognized the brand’s unique value proposition and significant growth potential in the international market. Zeus+Δione presents a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a fast-growing iconic luxury fashion brand with significant potential for further expansion. Our investment reflects our full confidence in the founder, Dimitra Kolotoura and the executive team, as they bring Zeus+Δione at the global industry forefront. We look forward to supporting the management team, to help build on the Company’s strong foundations and deliver superior continuous growth”.

On the Media:

“Climate Challenges” Conference

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The HSPN – Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Greece’s first environmental organization, hosted the “Climate Challenges” Conference to continue the dialogue on climate change and its impacts, with a focus on sustainable tourism, green education, and sustainable cities.

The conference brought together leading speakers from the fields of education and lifelong learning, civil society, local government, business, innovation, media, science, and tourism.

One of the key highlights of the event was the presentation of the new survey conducted by HSPN and METRON ANALYSIS, which unveiled the current trends in tourism in the era of climate change. The findings shed light on the necessary changes to achieve a more sustainable tourism model in Greece.

Read the survey results.

Watch the conference here.

SEN on the National TV of Greece

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The national television of Greece, ERT, visited the historic Association for the Education of Young Women (SEN), established in 1872 with the mission of empowering and educating women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by teaching them handicrafts as a means of livelihood.

150 years later, SEN proudly continues its remarkable legacy, offering workshops on handcrafts and a variety of other valuable skills.

Watch the episode here.

Authentic by Zeus+Δione | Athens Mon Amour: A conversation with Angela Liarikos

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* Featured on Authentic by Zeus+Δione

At Zeus+Δione, our mission is to discover and revive craftsmanship from every corner of Greece, no matter how remote or hidden. Yet, the heart of the brand always beats in Athens, particularly in the lively city centre that we cherish so much. That’s why we had to share our passion with someone who truly gets it – Angela Liarikos, an incredibly creative architect and interior designer. We had a truly captivating conversation with her.

Angela’s story is fascinating. She’s been around – lived in Canada, New York, and Berlin – but it was a summer on the island of Amorgos in 2013 that really changed things for her. That’s where she discovered her interest in Greek vernacular architecture and the love of a culture she carries in her ancestral roots. This led her to settle in Kypseli, right in the heart of Athens. There, she delved deep into the city’s architectural gems, exploring the art nouveau and Bauhaus “ruins” that have so many stories to tell. Her main focus is on how to preserve this modern heritage intact, even with all the new developments and renovations happening around us.

By exploring courtyards and old salons, Angela created a rich photographic archive of Athens’s lost splendour, which she shares on her Instagram account @athens___mon_amour. Through this project, she’s bringing back the essence of everyday life in old Athens, much like the stories our parents used to tell us about the city.

From Canada to Berlin and from Berlin to Athens. How was this transition?
I have always wanted to spend time in Greece, the country where my parents originated. Having grown up in Canada, where winters can be long and cold, and spending over half my life in Berlin, where the lack of light can also affect your psychology, I decided to finally make the leap to realise a long-held dream. My motto has always been, both literally and figuratively, “move towards the light.” Living in Greece, particularly in Athens, has always meant exactly that – being bathed in sunlight for most of the year. It is a blessing that I will never take for granted. So, the transition was quite a natural one, an innate calling, you could say.

Which are your 3 favorite neoclassical buildings in Athens, and where are they located?
Athens is full of beautiful, neoclassical gems, emblematic of its glorious, yet many of them today lie abandoned and forlorn. I can only speak for those depicted on my account, fortunate enough to have explored some from within. However, three buildings stand out most for me:

The Spathari Building at Mavromateon 39, an eclectic-style structure blending Art Nouveau and Art Deco elements, commanding views over Pedio Tou Areos park.
The Hotel Sans Rival building on Liosion Street, near Plateia Vathis, slated to reopen as a hotel at some unknown point in time.
And last but not least, one of Athens’ oldest polikatoikia buildings at the corner of Patission and Laskaratou, originally built by a shipowner named Giannoulatos.

Besides Kypseli -where you are established now-, which other areas of the city centre do you think retain the charm of old Athens?
I believe that surrounding areas like Plateia Amerikis, Kato Patissia, and Plateia Viktorias conceal many gems that, until recently, most people did not really care to acknowledge or visit due to the economic decline these areas have undergone in the last twenty years or so. While the exteriors of buildings in Plaka and Psirri have been retained and renovated, many of their interiors, with generic Airbnb renovations, have completely extinguished the authenticity and identity of old Athens. Many of my foreign clients looking to buy properties here therefore insist on finding a non-renovated apartment and place high value on original materials such as terrazzo flooring, herringbone wood floors, and the ever-beloved chunky marble sinks.

How important is it for you to maintain the sense of ‘neighbourhood’ versus urban alienation in the center of Athens?
I believe that Athens is one of the few cities in Europe whose city centre is still alive with a sense of “neighbourhood,” despite the sprawl of Airbnb. However, in residential areas such as Kypseli, Exarcheia, Gyzi, and Plateia Amerikis, it is important to place a limitation on Airbnb.
Furthermore, I think the polikatoikia, as a building typology that strongly characterises Athens’ repetitive urban landscape, has historically naturally fostered this sense of neighbourhood within a single building. While the homogeneity of polikatoikia buildings may appear monotonous to many, demographically, they have nurtured a unique form of urban community, especially in areas like Kypseli. The close proximity of neighbours encourages solidarity and shared experiences among residents, creating tight-knit communities within the chaos of urbanity. Sometimes, however, this can also lead to the nosy-neighbour-syndrome, haha…

What interior architectural elements catch your attention first while entering a new and unknown space?
In neoclassical buildings, it is usually the ornate, moulded ceilings and lofty heights of the spaces, as well as the internal wooden stairs that sometimes resemble metaphorical “skirts” cascading down from the floor above.
In Bauhaus buildings, it is the solid wooden handrails in the stairwells and the typical white Pendelic marble steps.
In polikatoikia buildings, it is the marble-clad lobbies juxtaposed with wooden wall panelling, and of course, the intricate designs of the metal entrance doors. The typical marble sinks in the kitchen and extensive wooden cabinets above – the ones we often find ourselves accidentally banging our heads on, since the counters were much narrower than today’s standard 60cm. Oh, and let’s not forget those vintage bathroom tiles in powdery, pastel hues of pink, turquoise, or mint green… dreamy indeed!
Very often, many of the apartments I view are like film sets or frozen moments in time. One half expects the inhabitants to return after stepping out for a while… Furniture, clothes, cluttered dishes, personal belongings, heirloom pieces from past generations, religious icons, family pictures – all left behind, each telling a story yet leaving a blank for you as a visitor to fill in. I am often deeply moved by what I see. I imagine the laughter, the cries, the arguments, the love, the intimacy, and the ever-so-touching human condition as a whole.

Do you prefer preserving traditional materials in a space over replacing them with new ones? Is it for sustainability, superior quality, or aesthetics?
I believe it’s a combination of all three factors. I think, like most people who have an aesthetic sense for authenticity, I’ve grown weary of generic Airbnb renovations that have nothing to do with the identity of a place. Visitors from across Europe and North America genuinely value traditional materials like terrazzo floors, vintage tiles, and marble sinks found in old Athenian apartments – elements that locals have often discarded insensitively for years. It’s indeed important to move with the times and renovate and refurbish old apartments. They definitely do not work with the ergonomic requirements of today.

However, a greater sensitivity towards what we throw out would be appropriate for two main reasons: firstly, to reduce the colossal masses of waste and minimise our increasingly destructive imprint on the environment, sustainability and recycling are absolutely imperative. Secondly, people are awakening to the fact that these traditional materials are part of a place’s architectural heritage, and there’s a growing realisation of their imminent disappearance everywhere. Consequently, I believe the trend is thankfully beginning to reverse. I also like to think that athens__mon_amour has played a part in this shift.

Share your top 3 Athenian building entrances.

Fokionos Negri 54, Kypseli: A very unique Art Deco metal door, featuring a typical 1930s sunray design.
Dionisiou Areopagitou 27: A 1960s solid wood door framed by a metal punctured grid screen wall, evoking a James Bond-like aesthetic, with views overlooking the Acropolis.
Ithakis 31, Kypseli: An exquisite 1930s Art Deco entrance, notable as the building where Odysseus Elytis lived during the height of World War II.

Favourite Greek architect of that time?
I would say Aristomenis Proveleggios, who designed the iconic Au Revoir Bar on Patission Street, is responsible for one of the oldest bars in Athens, which has become a veritable “institution” in its own right. Recently, I discovered from the current owner that Proveleggios, along with his students of architecture, designed the bar in 1957 as a collaborative effort, with the students applying their craftsmanship and building it with their own hands. I also learned that Proveleggios studied in France and worked for several years with Le Corbusier, the world-famous modernist architect of the early twentieth century. This puts Proveleggios even one notch higher in my books.

Amidst the urban chaos that characterizes it, is Athens ultimately a beautiful city?
It certainly is, in an unconventional, non-conformist way. Athens has absolutely captured my heart, as well as the hearts of many foreigners who have made it their home base in recent years. It is a city laden with history, unapologetic -in your face-, gritty, and irresistibly beautiful all at once. The warmth of the people, the quality of life, proximity to the islands, this incredible light, make it addictive indeed.

A celebration of friendship and music

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With the theme of “Friendship”, the Molyvos International Music Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, from August 9 to 19, 2024, dedicating its theme to the beauty of human connection and all the friendships and collaborations that made the festival possible over the years.

The Opening Events, co-organized with the North Aegean Region and the Lesvos Antiquities Authority, concluded with great success and turnout at various historic locations on the island, such as the Castle of Mytilene in the Saplitza Medieval Warehouses, the Ottoman Castle of Sigri, the Archaeological Site of the Sanctuary of Messon, and the Roman Aqueduct of Moria. Proving the power of friendship to unite people and cultures, a large international audience enjoyed exceptional musical performances by two outstanding young Greek violinists, Ioannis Nikolis and Evangelia Koutsodimou, at the Saplitza Warehouses at the Castle of Mytilene, and Turkish artists Umut Saglam (cello) and Orkun Pala (violin), along with pianists Kyveli and Danae Dörken at the Castle of Sigri, where the Mayor of Ayvalik, Mr. Mesut Ergin, addressed the audience. The President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, honored the festival with her presence, attending the exceptional Trio Storioni at the Sanctuary of Messon, while the rising Czech cellist Vilem Vlcek closed the Opening Events at the iconic Aqueduct of Moria, alongside Dutch pianist Bart van de Roer.

The main festival concerts began on August 16 in the fully booked, beautifully lit seaside park of the Delfinia Hotel, illuminated by Avdeliodis’ lighting. The festival hosted both returning favorites and new, talented musicians from around the world. Representing the Greek government, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Iason Fotilas, attended the Festival. Highlights included stellar performances by renowned soloist Antje Weithaas, charismatic clarinetist Sebastian Manz, award-winning guitarist Petrit Çeku, and sought-after tenor Simon Bode, who, together with Kyveli Dörken on the piano, performed the festival’s central piece, Schubert’s “Die Bürgschaft (The Pledge), based on Schiller’s poem.

One of the festival’s most special moments was the world premiere of the piece “On Love and Friendship,” composed by Greek composer Loukas Thanos specifically for the festival and the musicians it was written for. Danae Papamatthaiou-Matschke (violin), Rosanne Philippens (violin), Tomoko Akasaka (viola), Senja Rummukainen (cello), Marko Bechtas (double bass), and Kyveli Dörken (piano) brought the composer’s vision to life on stage, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Enriching its anniversary program, the festival organized an interesting symposium on August 17, titled: “Can the Aristotelian Ideal of Friendship Exist Beyond the Individual?”, exploring the concept of Aristotelian friendship. This discussion highlighted Lesvos’ connection to the philosopher, who spent significant time in Assos and Atarneus in Asia Minor, near Molyvos, and later in Eresos. Anthony Bossis, a clinical psychologist, professor of psychiatry at New York University, and religious studies professor at the University of Ottawa, drew from experimental clinical research conducted at NYU with terminally ill patients, underscoring the importance of friendship and love in the transition from life to death. Astrophysicist Stamatios Krimigis, President of the Academy of Athens and Head Emeritus of the Space Department of Applied Physics at Johns Hopkins, offered a different perspective on friendship, presenting the Voyager mission and the messages of friendship that humanity symbolically chose to send with it. Vivi Kefala, Professor of International Relations at the Department of Mediterranean Studies at the University of the Aegean and Director of the Center for Mediterranean-Middle Eastern Policy and Cultural Studies, highlighted the chronic failure of humanity to forge bonds of friendship between different nations. The symposium was moderated by Chloe Balla, Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Crete.

At the Young People’s Concert on August 18, children had the opportunity to meet the festival musicians and interact with the musical instruments. Musicians, volunteers, parents, teachers, and children from different backgrounds united under the sounds of strings and piano, dancing together to the Sicilienne. As always, the spontaneous Molyvos Musical Moments (MMM) delighted locals and visitors alike in the picturesque alleys of the traditional settlement, the beaches, the harbor, and other locations around Molyvos. A memorable MMM moment on the beach was when an elderly local passerby excitedly shouted, “BRAVO, it’s been 55 years since we’ve heard music like this. Bravo, bravo, bravo!”

Confession: Yorgos Kypris’ captivating art exhibition in Santorini

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We were excited to team up with MATI Art Gallery for the promotion of Confession, an art exhibition by renowned artist Yorgos Kypris, set in a beautifully restored traditional winery in Mesaria, Santorini. This exhibition featured large-scale installations displayed both indoors and in the surrounding gardens, offering a captivating exploration of themes such as the mysteries of the sea and the complexity of human emotion.

The exhibition also marked the opening of Kypris’ new art space, MATI Mesaria, 34 years after he first launched his gallery in Fira. Visitors had the chance to experience decades of Kypris’ work, where fragments of time came together to create fresh connections and reveal new artistic perspectives.

Kypris, known for his sculptures and installations that delve into themes of identity, memory, and religion, offered a profound reflection on the human condition. The exhibition blurred the boundaries between reality and memory, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in his unique world.

We were proud to help share this exhibition with art lovers, bringing the beauty and creativity of Santorini to a wider audience.

Spreading the message of sustainability: Blue Flag beaches take over the Athens Metro

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We’re always excited to work on projects that have a meaningful impact on the community. One of our latest works was a collaboration with the Blue Flag program, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of protecting Greece’s beautiful beaches and coastlines.

We teamed up with STASY – Urban Rail Transport to display vibrant, eye-catching ads across Metro stations throughout the city. These visuals served as a daily reminder forlocals and tourists about the value of choosing clean beaches for their holiday and preserving them for future generations.

The campaign’s location was key: the Metro stations provide a high-traffic platform, allowing us to reach a wide and diverse audience. By bringing the message of the Blue Flag program into the city’s everyday rhythm, we hoped to encourage people to reflect on the impact they have on the environment and inspire small actions that contribute to cleaner, healthier coastlines.

We are grateful to STASY for their support in helping us spread this vital message!

A new collaboration with Breathe Hellas for the “Uniform of Hope” campaign

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This summer, we’re proud to team up with Breathe Hellas for their three-month “Uniform of Hope” campaign. Founded by Tatiana Blatnik in 2020, Breathe Hellas is all about raising awareness and providing accessible mental health resources for everyone.

In May 2024, 28 Greek athletes, Olympians and coaches came together to share their stories—their triumphs and challenges—and created the “Uniform of Hope,” a powerful symbol for mental health.

We’re happy to start this journey to break the stigma around mental health. This initiative empowers athletes to become role models, promoting open dialogue and encouraging the next generation to share their own stories.

Perasma presented All Things Become Islands Before My Senses on the Greek Island of Leros

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Perasma proudly presented All Things Become Islands Before My Senses, a group exhibition of site-specific installations in dialogue with historic venues across the island of Leros this past summer. On display until 18 August 2024, the exhibition featured a blend of new and existing works, adapted to the unique historical context of the island by 17 international artists, including William Kentridge, Goshka Macuga, Cevdet Erek, Maryam Turkey, and Lindsey Mendick.

The exhibition explored the complex relationship between time, water, and the island’s rich history. It revolved around the fluidity of existence and how it manifests both beauty and adversity, especially on an island with such a multifaceted past. The maritime heritage of Leros, with its constant ebb and flow of ships and stories, became the focal point where history, mythology, and reality blended like the currents of its waters.

Leros, nestled in the Dodecanese Islands near Turkey, provided the perfect backdrop for All Things Become Islands Before My Senses. Its diverse architectural landscape, shaped by decades of Italian occupation and characterised by urban neoclassicism and Italian modernism, enhanced the experience for visitors. The artworks were installed across several key locations, each one chosen for its historical significance.

At the Perasma Space, located in a neoclassical mansion built in 1886 in Agia Marina:

Goshka Macuga premiered a new experimental horror film, marking the first time she worked with the medium, featuring actors from a local theatre group.
Cevdet Erek presented a sound installation with glass sculptures shaped like goat bells sourced from Leros, combining sound, rhythm, and architecture.
Cansu Yıldıran and Maryam Turkey created new works during residencies, with Yıldıran’s photographic series and Turkey’s light sculptures and installation of found objects from Leros.
Paweł Althamer exhibited Case for Dogon Queen (2020) and fools boat (2024), along with other sculptures.
William Kentridge’s mohair tapestry and other works by artists like Laura Footes, Sophie von Hellerman, and Kostis Velonis were also featured.

Other key locations included:

The Elementary School, home to Cevdet Erek’s SSS – Shore Scene Soundtrack, an interactive project that recreated the sound of the ocean through specific hand movements.
The Old Barracks of Xerokampos, where William Kentridge’s Shadow Procession (1999) was displayed, within an abandoned barracks that also contained frescoes by German painter Otto Meister.
The Leros Nautical Club, which hosted Paweł Althamer’s Art Academy for children from immigrant communities, with workshops led by renowned international professors.

This exhibition was the second edition of The Leros Project, launched by Perasma in 2023 in collaboration with Galerist, and built on the themes explored in the previous edition, Time is a Child. Throughout its work, Perasma collaborated closely with the local community and organisations such as the Artemis Cultural and Educational Association and the Caserma of Herbs and its Social Cooperative, enhancing the relationship between contemporary art and Leros’s historical and social landscape.

On the Media:

All Things Become Islands Before My Senses Press Cuttings selection