SYNASTRY: WHERE ART, POETRY & THE COSMOS CONVERGE
Bringing together twenty visual artists, thirteen contemporary Greek poets and centuries of celestial knowledge, Synastry explored humanity’s enduring fascination with the universe through an interdisciplinary exhibition that connected art, poetry, science and history.
Curated by Kostas Prapoglou, the group exhibition drew inspiration from planets, constellations and cosmic narratives, exploring the relationships between mythology, scientific observation, personal experience and collective memory. Taking its title from the astrological term “synastry,” the exhibition was led by by Lefteris Moysiadis.
The artworks were accompanied by poems written especially for the project by thirteen contemporary poets from Greece, whose verses created moments of reflection throughout the exhibition. Selected manuscripts and rare books on cosmography, astronomy and astrology, drawn from the Special Collections of the National Library of Greece, further highlighted humanity’s centuries-old relationship with the celestial sphere.
Presented beneath the glass ceiling of the National Library of Greece, the exhibition incorporated the natural sky into the visitor experience. Changing light, clouds and the passage of the day became part of the setting, reinforcing the connection between artistic expression and the ongoing observation of the universe.
Synastry takes its point of departure from this enduring desire to chart and interpret the unknown. Its title appropriates a term traditionally associated with the study of relationships and mutual influences. Here, however, synastry expands into a broader way of reading the world. It suggests a framework in which distinct trajectories converge and unexpected correspondences become apparent, opening new possibilities of understanding.—Kostas Prapoglou
Participating artists included: Anna Ampariotou, Annita Kalimeri, Christos Antonaropoulos, Constantin Xenakis, Costas Tsoclis, Costas Varotsos, Evi Savvaidi, Giorgos Tzinoudis, Konstantinos Papamichalopoulos, Kyriaki Patronaki-Charalambidou, Lea Petrou, Lina Pigadioti-Tzima, Lydia Andrioti, Micha Cattaui, Rosa Zeidan, Sophia Kalogeropoulou, Stathis Vatanidis, Tolis Tatolas, Vassilis Karakatsanis, Yassonas Megoulas (Cacao Rocks).
The wider programme extended across several prominent cultural and scientific venues in Athens. The National Observatory of Athens hosted a special event at its historic facilities on the Hill of the Nymphs in Thissio, bringing together the worlds of art and scientific observation through a night-sky viewing experience using its historic telescopes. At the Eugenides Foundation Planetarium, audiences were invited to experience “Live Journeys Through Space,” using its advanced spaceflight simulation system to explore the universe through an immersive scientific experience.
The newly inaugurated Arsakeio Arcade hosted a special poetry evening under the Full Moon. Participating poets gathered in its courtyard to read the works they had written specifically for Synastry, followed by a musical event dedicated to the Full Moon.
Each work stands as an autonomous proposition within this constellation of ideas. Some are rooted in mythology, others in scientific thought, personal experience or collective memory. Together, they consider the ways in which cultures give shape to what exceeds comprehension, constructs frameworks of meaning and continually reconsiders its place within an ever-shifting web of relationships.—Kostas Prapoglou
Accessibility was also an important part of the exhibition, which incorporated tactile interpretations of artworks, audio descriptions and specially designed materials, allowing visitors with visual impairments to experience the works through different senses.
Through his initiative and under his overall coordination, Synastry developed organically from an initial idea into an extensive network of collaborations, establishing a presence across emblematic cultural and scientific venues in Athens. At its core lies his conviction that significant ideas do not exist in isolation; they acquire meaning by connecting different people, languages and ways of understanding the world.
