On Saturday, November 11, Eleusis 2021 celebrates the 1-year anniversary of being designated the European Capital of Culture 2021, with a large-scale work in the public space, in which the ‘leading role’ is played by the children of Eleusis.
Based, both on the main idea of Eleusis 2021 “Transition to EUphoria” and Danae Stratou’s installation “Upon the Earth, Under the Clouds” at Eleourgío, the children of Eleusis send a message of equality and humanity across the Mediterranean.
Under the theme of home, uprooting, and searching for a new homeland, about 300 children aged 8 to 12 will draw their messages on small illuminated vessels, especially made for the occasion. Then, holding their vessels, they will cross Nikolaidou street and the Eleourgío until they reach the sea, where they will let their vessels travel across Europe. At the same time, this luminous procession of 300 children activates -through the sound- the city of Eleusis. The sound, a timeless communication code, is derived from the sound-chromatic universe of Iannis Xenakis, who in 1967 with his work “Persephassa” (Persephone) composed, perhaps, the most influential musical description of the of the myth of Persephone. The children interact and have an acoustic ‘dialogue’ with Danae Stratou’s work and, ultimately, they return the myth in a unique way to the city it was born in.
The project will start at 16:00 at Iroon Square, while the procession of the children will begin its course at 17:15.
Within the event’s preparation, the participating children also attend the “I Find My Home” educational programme, through which they get to know the art installation “Upon the Earth, Under the Clouds” and come into contact with the concepts of the life cycle, movement and migration.
Idea-Concept: Kelly Diapouli
Space design: George Alexandrou
Music concept-teaching: Dimitris Desyllas
Music assistants: Semeli Margariti, Aristides Lykos-Desyllas
Construction of illuminated vessels: Art Colour
Movement: Zeta Valavani
Design and Implementation of the experiential workshop “I Find My Home”: Very Young Contemporary Art
Production Management: Angeliki Lampiri
We thank the Technical Services of the Municipality of Eleusis, the Centre for Culture, Sports, Social Policy & Preschool Education of the Municipality of Eleusis, the Open Care Centre for the Elderly of the Municipality of Eleusis, the Thriasian Plain Volunteers Association, the Parents’ Associations of Primary Schools of Eleusis, Filiki Folia, Eleusis Port Authority, the Pirounakio 2nd High-School of Eleusis, the Chair of the Single Primary Education Committee, Menelaos Michas, the Chair of the Municipal Council of Eleusis, Despina Ikonomou, the President of the Centre for Culture, Sports, Social Policy & Preschool Education of the Municipality of Eleusis, Vassilis Agrimakis, as well as the companies “Argos Security” and “FILIS G.P.” for their valuable contribution to the implementation of the project “365 Days After, 1147 Days to Go!”
