The Eternal Cycle of Life is a continuous series of events, when something emerges, transforms, disappears, at the same time something new transpires, creating an endless cycle.
Eternal is that which flows continuously, endlessly. It was there before your existence. It will survive you. It grew with your parents, your grandparents, and it breeds our generation in a primordial circular path of evolution and knowledge. Severe weather phenomena, sudden climate changes and their consequences lead us to act on our fixed habits and preconceptions.
In Kissos, Pelion, a region that still feeling the aftermath of the climate change impact, artists meet in a creative dialogue that aims to highlight not destruction but rather rebirth and knowledge gained from the eternal cycle of life.
«The Eternal Cycle»
July 22 - 28, 2024
Group exhibition, Former Primary School of Kissos
Inspired by the rebirth and knowledge of the eternal cycle of life
The exhibition «The Eternal Cycle» at the Old Primary school of Kissos incorporated seventeen contemporary artists and three curators from Greece and abroad, who interpreted the eternal cycle of life, with the virtues and vices of human nature: love, violence, prosperity, war, discoveries, revenge, torment, joy, a loop of agonizing efforts of mankind to cope with everyday challenges.
Participating artists:
Matina Alexiou, Nikolas Bliatkas, Vasilis Botoulas (Curated by: Chara Dimitropoulou), Sebastian Boulter, Nikos Dimeas, Panos Georgopoulos, Athina Kanela, Evelina Kehagia, Ioulia Ladogianni, Valentino Marengo, Despoina Pantazi, Antonis Papadopoulos, Nicholas Stavropoulos, George Striftaris, Eleni Tsamadia & George Karoumbis, Vasilis Vasilakakis, Curators, Georg Georgakopoulos, Fotini Kapiris.
«Chiron and Nessus, the two faces of the world, visual notes»
Artists, curators, visitors presented photographs from their excursions that were screened in the exhibition space and updated daily.
The photographs were displayed at the exhibition site at the Old Primary School of Kissos, as well as online.
Visit our instagram account and view the 2024 photobook
instagram @zigzagfestivalgreece
2024 Cultural Events and Tours
Connecting with the local history and environment.
In the historic setting of the Old Primary School of Kissos and the area surrounding the main square, the public gathered to engage with and explore contemporary artistic practices and forms of expression.
Performances
Kinetic composition-performance
“ME.THEY.US”, Eleni Tsamadia examined the dark desirable sites of female nature, the animal femininity that meanders in the treacherous terrains of its nature, mirroring of the limits of critique of the gender theory. With the processing of the sounds, George Karoumbis meets the musical environment of skaros, in the light of jazz, techno and polyrhythmicity.
Athina Kanela's durational performance "Nest 05" reflected on the relationship between motherhood and self- creation within a carefully constructed, allegorical space —ideas closely tied to the womb as a metaphor for origin and protection. Aimed to shape new spaces in her projects, the artist encouraged viewers to consider themes of personal space and vulnerability within the human experience, while focusing on her broader artistic exploration of personal and collective spaces that delve into both social and internal dynamics.
Cyanotype workshop by
Ioulia Ladogiannis at Kissos square. Participants co-created and produced their own works having mastered the cyanotyping technique. The artwork itself is a result of a natural, ecological process as it requires materials from the nature of Pelion.
Father Michael guided artists and visitors through the history and architecture of the 1650's Church of Agia Marina in Kissos square. He offered a theological analysis of the frescoes, their spirituality and symbolism as they are directly connected to important personalities of the local community.
Kissos Pelion/ Zig Zag Festival 2024 | The Eternal Cycle
Program Directors: Georg Georgakopoulos, Fotini Kapiris
Organised by: CHEAPART
Participation in Zig Zag Kouzines (Kitchens):
Tavern,
"Stou Sofokli"
Tavern,
"H Synandisi"
Sebastian Boulter & Jaakko Eino Kalevi Flavors of Finland at Kissos
Coordination of artists and curators, Exhibition consultant: APART
Coordination of audio visual artists,
Screening and audio consultant: Modular expansion
With the financial support and under the auspices of: Hellenic Ministry of Culture
Under the auspices of the Municipality of Zagora-Mouresi
Local community,
participation
Digital photologue: CHEAPART
Branding/ Video: APART Art Research and Applications
Hosted by: Kissos Pelion/ Zig Zag Festival 2024
Discovering Kissos, Pelion
Kissos is located in Pelion, in the eastern part of Magnesia, Greece. Pelion, the mountain of the Centaurs, is a natural green landscape and a protected habitat of the Natura network. The entire area is an inexhaustible treasure of myths, legends, historical and cultural traditions.
Kissos is a mountain village situated at 500 meters altitude. It is distanced 48 km from Volos, 8 km from the beach of Ag. Ioannis and 12 km from the ski resort. The name of the village may refer to the homonymous plant or, according to the historian G. Kordatou, from the word gold pronounced as (k'sos). Kissos is well known for its local architecture, the sea view, the rich beech and chestnut forest. The church of Agia Marina, a three-aisled basilica from 1650, has been declared a historic monument. The church is adorned with a rare wooden carved iconostasis from 1700 – 1720 and frescoes by the popular painter Giannis Pagonis from 1802. The frescoes are unique, as they combine themes from the New Version of the Old Testament and the Apocalypse, but also of Natural History and geography. During the economic and intellectual prosperity of the 18th century, grey a number of schools operating in almost all villages. Rigas Velestinlis or Feraios, an influential writer, politician, thinker and forerunner of the Greek Revolution of 1821, also taught in Kissos.
Photologue screening, «Chiron and Nessus, the two faces of the world»
«The Eternal Cycle», exhibition view
«The Eternal Cycle», exhibition view
«The Eternal Cycle», exhibition view
«The Eternal Cycle», exhibition view
«The Eternal Cycle», exhibition view
Cyanotype workshop by Ioulia Ladogianni
«ME.THEY.US», Eleni Tsamadia & George Karoumbis
«Nest 05» Athina Kanela