‘Crafts of the Sea’: A maritime exhibition of Cycladic culture and history
A multimedia maritime exhibition, “Crafts of the Sea,” will open for the first time in Athens at the Goethe Institute Athens from July 4 to September 21.
The Archipelagos Network, the Professional Fishing Association of Amorgos and the Goethe Institute of Athens collaborate to display Cycladic maritime traditions through time. The exhibition incorporates a variety of artistic mediums to form an accurate representation of these maritime communities in the past and present.
Using historical material, modern-day photos, short documentaries, as well as audio and visual components it aims to create an informative and vivid experience for visitors.
It will focus on five islands of the Aegean and Cycladic archipelagos culture: Amorgos, Koufonisia, Paros, Santorini and Syros.
The visitor will be able to see what a boat in Naoussa, Paros looked like, how fishermen in Syros used to fish, compare and contrast the configuration of boat yards, the ports, and even fishermen’s tools. It will also feature material from the Historical Folklore Museum of Naoussa and other private collections from Syros, Amorgos and Santorini.
Jacob Moe, documentary filmmaker and founder of the Archipelagos Network, and Maurizio Borriello, ethnographer and videographer want to reach far deeper than simply an exhibition to showcase a part of Greece’s archipelago culture but to educate the public on the importance of this ecosystem and its history.
As Greece deals with over-tourism, creating a whole slew of problems for the Greek islands, the exhibit highlights these struggles and accompanying changes throughout the decades, including the impact of climate change on maritime communities.
The opening and screening begin on Thursday, July 4 at 8.30 p.m. and entry is free. The exhibition is closed on the weekends and for all of August.
