The art exhibition "Haiti Hellas 1821-2021 - Journey to Freedom / Respect" concerns a multifaceted exhibition of educational character, in the context of cultural events and anniversary activities for the 200 years since the Greek Revolution.
Haiti was the first country to recognize Greece's independence, in a letter sent in 1822 by the then-President Jean-Pierre Boyer "To the citizens of Greece", including to Adamantios Korais. The exhibition is inspired by this important historical event, but also by myths associated with it; such as the fact that Haiti sent 100 volunteers to fight for the struggle for independence on a fatal ship, that never reached its destination.
The value of the exhibition lies in the fact that it provides the opportunity to explore lesser-known elements of the Greek revolution inside and outside Europe, from an historical, as well as from a modern perspective. It also paves the way for us to get to know a distant and unknown country, with which, however, we are strongly tied by revolutionary struggles for freedom.
This exhibition is the outcome of an inter-university educational cooperation between the University of Peloponnese, Department of Documentary and Digital Arts and the University of the Aegean, Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering. In an initial form, it was inaugurated in Spetses island, at the Ecclesiastical Museum of Spetses, at the beginning of August 2021, under the supervision of Mrs. Lida Papakonstantinou, who also had the idea for the project. For this presentation now in Nafplio, the exhibition was redesigned and enriched with new exhibits.
Art Works - Artists
The exhibition includes works by students, as well as guest artists, such as Lida Papakonstantinou and the Greek-American artist Theodora Skipitares. Of particular interest are also some collaborations of Digital Art's students with young Haitian artists, such as the performer Maksaen Denis. The multifaceted exhibition includes works of art, installations, animations, video art and video performances.
An important exhibit of this exhibition in Nafplio is also the historical item, that inspired these artistic creations: the translation and first publication in Greek of the letter of Boyer (1861), as well as its manuscript, which were kindly provided by the National Library of Greece. The letter of 1822 documents the wonderful act of solidarity of Haiti with Greece.
Curator of Exhibition
Mrs. Marina Kotzamani
Duration of Exhibition
October 15th to November 7th 2021
Place
The exhibition is presented in the building of the first Greek Parliament named "Vouleftiko" (Nafplio old town on Syntagma Square), where the Parliament of the revolutionary Greece was housed, as also in the Alpha Bank Cultural Center (Emmanuel Dalamagas and 4 Koletti Str., Nafplio, Old Town)
Opening hours
Vouleftiko, Monday to Sunday 09:00-14:00 & 18:00-21:00 (T. +30 27520 96127, 27153)
Alpha Bank Cultural Center, Monday to Friday 09:00-15:00 (T. +30 27520 96234)
Entrance
Free
Did you know that?
A guided tour is also available upon request.
Under the auspices of HE the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the exhibition is a co-organization of the Municipality of Nafplio, Municipal Organization of Culture-Environment-Sports-Tourism (DOPPAT), together with the Department of Documentary and Digital Arts (University of the Peloponnese).
