An innovative light installation by Beforelight entitled ‘Light Sgraffito’ is located in Saint Markella’s square, the heart of Chios Community in Ano Elefsina.
This installation is the result of the participatory planning through workshops together with the local community and is mainly inspired by the anthropological and folk traditions of the island of Chios and in particular by a medieval technique known as ‘Xysta’ also developed in Chios. In the daylight, ‘xysta’ interact with sunlight creating shadows on a sokoro placed in the back of the installation. At night, ‘xysta’ are lighten up to stand out from the background as dark figures in contrast to certain lightened elements appearing all along the construction. This light installation creates new geometries and diverse movements of lights.
The participants of the workshop and the artistic group Beforelight speak on camera about the beautiful moments that they lived during the workshop and the events that inspired them.
Contributors:
“Light Sgraffito” – Light installation in the public space by the Beforelight group in collaboration with a group of residents of Elefsina
The Beforelight group comprises the following members: Elisa Alexandropoulou, Christina Ampatzidou, Konstantina Evangelou, Kelly Efraimidou, Dimitris Theocharoudis, Maria Lazaridou, Vasilis Dovros, Eirini Steirou.
Participants of the workshop: Sofia Laskou, Konstantinos Veroutis, Alexandros Psaltis, Efthymios Mitsos, Vassilios Kanakis, Vera Feleki, Alexandros Anouar, Angeliki Sexremeli, Kondylis Panagiotis, Christodoulos Balokas, Stelios Fragkoudakis, Elena Gioka, Panagiotis Marougkas, Mixailou Mary, Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos, Maria Papafragkou, Eva Rizou, Kostis Sykiotis, Filippos Margaritis, Fiorida Chenai
Invited interlocutors of the workshop: Zerefos Stelios, Koutsaftis Filippos, Aloutzanidou Dimitra, Chatzichristodoulou Elias, Maglara Matina
Installation implementation:
Architect-Implementing Partner: Anastasia Tsopelaki
Metal construction: Mavrakis Christos (windoors)
Electrical installation: Dimitriou Sakis, Tsiaparas George
Planning: Kapetanellis Dimos
Installation duration: December 2020 – December 2021
A production of 2023 ELEVSIS European Capital of Culture.
Find out more at: https://www.2023elevsis.eu/mystery-4light-sgraffito/?lang=en
