MONTH IN REVIEW: December 2024
A roundup of this past month’s art and design news about the makers and creators from Greece and Cyprus
The Financial Times labeled Athens as the coolest wine scene in Europe
Athens is known for many things – ancient history, nightlife, beaches…– but one thing that might not top the list is wine. This has certainly changed in the last few years after numerous wine bars and contemporary restaurants have popped up throughout the city. Enough so that The Financial Times named the city one of the coolest wine scenes in Europe. Places such as Kennedy Vins by Chris Kontos, Wine is Fine, and Gallina have taken over Instagram, and now their influence is on the global stage.
“Previously, the reputation of wine in Greece was that it was cheap and for getting drunk at the taverna,” said Kontos. “I now see young people going out for wine, or for a meal with their favourite wines, instead of the cocktail bars. This was never before a thing in Athens.”
In Athens, unlike Paris or London, wine bars are more neighborhood hangouts and they are not just for the connoisseur. They have become places for catching up, gossiping, doing business, playing and more. The decor is usually modern and sleek with a touch of traditional, rustic Greek kafenion coffee house motifs. Some spots serve more foreign natural wines, while others lean into Greek brands.
Photography by Chris Kontos.
Greek authorities discovered the ancient artefacts nine months ago in response to a call to investigate the basement of an Athens building. The building was long occupied but a dealer of rarities such as jewelry, watches, and art. The authorities found
Almost all of the ancient objects were located in a difficult-to-reach underground space, accessible through a hatch in the ground floor. They were found packed in old cardboard boxes and some of them were wrapped in newspapers from the 1940s, when the property was first leased to operate as a store selling all kinds of jewelry, watches, works of art and all related items.
The objects were transferred for safekeeping to storage areas of the Ephorate of the City of Athens and to the Numismatic Museum, until the investigation of the case by the competent prosecutorial authorities is completed. After their conservation, they will be examined by a special scientific committee, based on the opinion of the Central Archaeological Council, which will decide on their monetary value.
TOMMAZO opened its flagship in Nicosia
TOMMAZO, the Cypriot fashion brand that celebrates self-expression and timeless elegance, opened its flagship store in the city of Nicosia, Cyprus. It hosted the grand opening in mid-December with drinks by Boozy Wheels, music by Vanesha Tiffany Pillay, and curation by CASAPEZ.
The store is clean and sleek and puts the spotlight on the clothes, which are gender neutral. The interior is minimalist and contemporary with muted colors of white and grey. Terracotta vases dot around the space add color and texture. One mirror in the flagship is decorated with text that reads: TOMMAZO is me and yet it’s you. You the dreamer, you the free spirit, you the creative, you the survivor. The you who is not afraid to be you.
Founded by Toumazos Charalambous, TOMMAZO operates with his intuitive design approach, paired with deep emotion and significant personal self-exploration. Charalambous makes every collection a piece of his soul and has helped to put Cyprus, his homeland, on the fashion map.
Read our interview with Charalambous here.
Numerous Greek artists, designers, and galleries participated in Miami Art Week 2024
This year, a diverse collection of Greek creators and galleries participated in Miami Art Week from Basel to NADA to Alcova Miami. Objects of Common Interest, Made by ASTRONAUTS, and Theo Galliakis displayed at Alcova Miami.
"Reflections of now" by Objects of Common Interest featured semi-transparent, colored objects that resembled prismatic gems. These pieces captured how memories – specifically from childhood memories shared by close family in this instance – exist in our minds. The collision served as an exploration of memory and each object acted as a layered reflection of the clear and hazy moments that connect us to our past.
ASTRONAUTS collaborated with Athens-based SERAPIS for an installation entitled "HYBRIS ASTERN." They displayed two chairs named “Scylla & Charybdis,” after the mythological sea monsters, that were complex in form made with rigid unibody structures from a thin steel sheet. They were finished with custom translucent powder coating that revealed the blemishes of the welding process and upholstered in SERAPIS’ “Rust” design in jacquard woven cotton fabric.
“Amphora” by Theo Galliakis were made from inox, steel, aluminum, and copper and inspired by the ancient Greek vessels of the same name that were used for transportation and storing wine and water. Some were made of gold and offered as gifts to deities. In today’s world of excess, Galliakis’ “pretend to be gold” Amphoras served as offerings to the contemporary Pantheon.
Dio Horia Gallery exhibited at NADA with works by Selma Parlour.
Photo of ASTRONAUTS chair by George Nalbadis.
Greece: The Monocle Handbook was released
Monocle released its newest travel handbook on Greece entitled Greece: The Monocle Handbook. It features places to see and visit such as rural tavernas, island retreats, ski slopes and even cities, towns, and islands that someone could call home. Fashion brands, gastronomy, and designers such as Anthologist in Athens, Maison Bardot in Antiparos, and Taxidi in Tinos are profiled. It also includes interviews by a new generation of olive oil producers, winemakers, and beekeepers who are keeping ancient traditions alive and integrating modern practices. Purchase the handbook here.
