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لاقي البيت
2022
A mural intervention as part of ArtWalk Festival in Patras, Greece done in September.
The Research
Early 2021, I received an invitation to create a mural for ArtWalk Festival in the city of Patras, Greece. Since knowing about it I’ve taken the time to research to slowly conceptualise the work. I focused on the idea of exile, migration and displacement. My focus on those themes was to try to string between the narrative that I’m surrounded with back home and finding commonalities in a completely new environment.
This ‘stringing’ wasn’t as linear as it may seem, it left me in a room filled with many ideas. These ideas came from inspirations of Etel Adnan’s works, the history of Smyrna an its destruction, contemporary news and politics about Greece’s migration policies.
The Excursion
Arriving to Patras, I took a few days to dig deeper. I came there with some guiding ideas but tried to keep an open mind and ensure a gradual development as I explored and played with the city more and more. Much of what I had in mind switched and altered as I spent days experiencing Patras.
I'd pick up leaflets from the street, cut out pictures from newspapers, see the architecture better all to see the common visual language there. But I also had the chance to talk to some wonderful people that help migrants and refugees. To mostly shed light on Kinisi, a collective initiative spearheaded by Nikos Papageorgiou who also kindly allowed me to search in the initiative's photo archive of more than 3,000 photos throughout the years.
Smyrna stayed on my mind but Patras had new waves of the youth and contemporary narratives, the sea is what really connected these two timelines for me. Finding a poem by George Seferis a poet from Smyrna that really stuck with me. The idea of home and youth colliding with the sea was really prominent.
The Concept
The concept of the mural goes under the themes of displacement and exile. An attempt to tie in migration narratives from a 100 years ago, following events like the destruction of Smyrna in 1922 and current refugee situations present in Patras. What connected both of those narratives is the sea and its horizon. The work tried to depict a group of young men sitting by the port of Patras with its recognisable mountain behind. The figures are in conversation with the sea horizon behind them, offering a contemplative moment. A moment that is not at all unfamiliar to many yet poses different heaviness and meaning. The sea becomes the vast abundance of answers to questions of having a better life or looking back at the past in attempts to find home.
This mural was truly a collaborative effort, I would like to thank Kleomenis for trusting me to be part of his festival. Maria for her constant support and hospitality. Nikos, Nadia and no name kitchen for all their help. And mostly all the volunteers that made sure that I had everything I needed from start till finish. Elissavet, Myrtw, Diamantis, Lydia, Eirini, Yiannis, Marina, and all the others. I arrived and left inspired by how beautifully run this festival was. Special thanks to Giannakos and his friends for allowing me to take their photos.
