As part of the project Synoikismoi, A Festival the ancient myth of Persephone is revived seeking to inspire modern man to notice his interdependence with nature. Embodied as a red carpet, Persephone becomes the city’s common ground to reflect on its present and envision its future. A work of urban scenography and social art that aspires to reveal the possibilities of Elefsina’s transition to a new era.
The red carpet unfolds and evolves from an aristocratic symbol into a democratic one on a public stage where residents and artists create together, discovering that each of them is a Very Important Person and an artist at the same time.
The red carpet, 40 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, will function in a way that is connected to the symbolism of grandeur and formality, but also diverges from it, and turns into a democratic symbol, while maintaining its artistic sanctity. The project will be spread over different environments and neighborhoods of Elefsina, for five days in each of them, and will evolve into “paper” on which the emotions it will create will be captured.
Persephone, the red carpet is a living sculpture shaped by the protagonists and the dynamics of each neighborhood. To the sound of Andreas Polyzogopoulos’ trumpet she will be led in procession from a neighbourhood to the other by the inhabitants-artists. During these mysterious transitions different worlds meet…
The different stages of Persephone, the red carpet’s life will become the homonymous movie shot by Joshua Olsthoorn and the Collectif MASI.
The transitions of Persephone, the red carpet take place on the following dates:
Sunday 28/05/2023 Birth of modern Persephone
18.00-19.00 Event for the start of the project in Canteen Square / Platform
Thursday 01/06/2023 Innocence (happiness, joy, naivety)
17.00-17.30 Canteen Square / Platform —> Kanellopoulou 64-56
Monday 06/05/2023 Death
18.00-18.30 Railway lines
Friday 09/06/2023 Rebirth
18.00-18.30 Railway station —> Youth Park
Tuesday 13/06/2023 Fertility
18.30-19.00 Youth Park —> Nicomedia Street (Refugees)
Saturday 17/06/2023 Confrontation
18.00-18.30 Nikomedia Street (Refugees) —> Agia Markella Square
Wednesday 21/06/2023 Connection of the lower and upper worlds
18.00-18.30 Agia Markella Square —> Nikolaidou Street
Wednesday 28/06/2023 Forever between two worlds
19.00 Nikolaidou Street (Old town hall) —> Canteen Square / Platform
Each transition is followed by an event at the place of destination.
