The art exhibition “Myrtis” in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

After the success of the art exhibition “Myrtis” in “Magna Gallery”, Athens, in December 2010, it was hosted for two months in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. It was proposed by the curator of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Mrs Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, that the art exhibition “Myrtis” accompanied the exhibition “Myrtis: Face to Face with the Past”. Very rarely is an archaeological exhibition accompanied by a relevant art exhibition, and the two co-exist in an archaeological  museum.

I heartily thank all those who cooperated to realize this double exhibition, and Mrs Polyxeni Adam-Veleni once more, for the picture she painted and offered to “Myrtis”!

Manolis J Papagrigorakis
Attending and drafting the exhibition: Elpida Mavrovitou
Lighting: Stelios Karampikas

The journey of the planning of the art exhibition “Myrtis”

A young Athenian travels to the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki with the exhibition “Myrtis: face to face with the past”. A group of artists follow her journey with the art exhibition “Myrtis”. Starting point of the exhibition was the archaeological find of Myrtis, which inspired the artists to either create new artworks or choose from their already existing work.

The director of the Museum Dr. Polyxeni Adam-Veleni kindly offered the space for the inauguration of this exhibition: a room for temporary exhibitions which has a rectangular ground plan. The two long walls bear ten surfaces for placing exhibits, which “interrupt” the linearity of space.

At this point my contribution begins, as part of the team that created the exhibition. The first approach on the artworks and space was through the published catalogue. The artworks operated as guide for the final planning and the adjustment of the exhibition to the specific room of the Museum.

Having in mind that the thread that runs through the exhibition is that many artists, independently of their age, discipline or prominence, have united and altogether offer for Myrtis, we placed at the beginning of the exhibition the portrait of Myrtis by Yiannis Stavrou, followed by the artworks of the other artists, placed in alphabetical order.

For the surfaces of the walls and the structures we choose a natural and neutral color, the one of the mushroom. Furthermore, our initial intention was for the artworks to be enhanced by the color, the light and their movement. In parallel, the necessary technical works and interventions in the room were completed.

The initial planning of the exhibition was, as usually, modified the day of the setup, mainly due to the presence of the actual artworks in the room. On the projective surfaces we placed the works which were large in size. On the rest of the wall surfaces groups of works were compiled: we started with works inspired by Myrtis as a child and the drawings of children-artists and we continued with works having as subject child innocence, nature, creativity, the future of children etc. Finally, in the open space, in prominent position on stands, the two sculptures of the exhibition were placed.

Combining ideas and views, we finally reached the final result and the completion of the exhibition. This day was important for another reason: I met for the first time the Prof. Manolis Papagrigorakis. I thank him for the collaboration we had and for the opportunity he offered me for adding a small pebble in the journey.

Living this experience and having always in mind the eternal smile of this girl, the child inside me came out. I took my colors and played on a paper. Consequently, I redesigned the exhibition in its final application, by drawing all the works of art as miniatures-let the artists forgive me for the result!

At this point I would like to mention my colleague Stelios Karampikas, who contributed decisively in the exhibition with ideas and technical solutions, as well as to thank the archaeologists Liana Stefani, Aggeiliki Koukouvou and Eleutheria Akrivopoulou for the trust they showed me.

I would like to thank one again Prof. Manolis Papagrigorakis, the artists and, of course, the director of the Museum Dr. Polyxeni Adam-Veleni.

Elpida Mavrovitou