MODERN ARTEMIS EXHIBITION: CONTEMPORARY ART INSPIRED BY ANTIQUITY
- 17 hours ago
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Portes Magazine is honored to announce its role as official media sponsor for the highly anticipated exhibition Modern ARTεμις – The Ancient Amarynthos in Euboea: Contemporary Art Inspired by Antiquity.
Organized by the Swiss Archaeological School in Greece (ESAG) in collaboration with the University of West Attica, the exhibition initiates an engaging dialogue between archaeological research and contemporary visual art, drawing inspiration from one of the most significant archaeological projects currently underway in Greece, the excavations at the Sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia in Amarynthos, Euboea. The site has recently revealed the long-sought temple of Artemis Amarysia, along with other major findings that enrich our understanding of ancient Eretrian religious practices.
Curated by Dr. Olga Polychronopoulou (University of West Attica), Dr. Tobias Krapf (ESAG), and Iris Kritikou (art historian and exhibition curator), the show features original works by nine acclaimed artists from Greece, Switzerland, and Cyprus: Iphigenia Sdoukou, Anna Achilleos Staeubli, Praxiteles Tzanoulinos, Thrasos Avaritsiotis, Katerina Velliou, Noemi Niederhauser, Karl and Nicole Reber, and Judit Villiger.
The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Athens Municipal Arts Center (Kentro Technon, Eleftherias Park, Vasilissis Sofias). The official inauguration will take place on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. It will run until May 3, 2026. Visiting hours: Tuesday to Friday 11:00–19:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00–15:00 (closed on Mondays).
“This project originated from a concept that has been evolving for several years, stemming from my research interests in the reception of Antiquity and its various uses and interpretations within Western society. One significant manifestation of this reception is articulated through the arts of each era," says Dr. Olga Polychronopoulou.
In 2023, the artists took part in a unique art residency at the excavation site, gaining direct inspiration from the landscape, the ongoing digs, the artifacts, and the historical significance of the sanctuary. The artworks explore themes such as the myth of Artemis, the traces of the sacred site, the relationship between humans and landscape, and the continuous interplay between past and present.
“Our objective was to utilize contemporary artistic practice to highlight the elements that render Antiquity meaningful in a modern context.
The resulting body of work is remarkably compelling, comprising over forty pieces—including paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and embroidery,” Dr. Polychronopoulou says.
Following its Athens run, the exhibition will travel in May 2026 to the Municipal Gallery of Chalkis in Euboea, with future plans to continue to Switzerland.
For more information, please visit the Swiss Archaeological School in Greece website: www.esag.swiss.
