„The Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the residency’s central themes, added an atmosphere of secrecy and mysticism to the paths we walked.“ José Villamil. Architect. Bogotá, Colombia.
The Road To Elefsina residency, workshop and presentation project addresses jewelry makers, visual artists, designers, photographers, crafters, ceramists, performers, filmmakers, art theorists who wish to dive into the Greek myth of death and resurrection. The myth of Persephone also highlights the mother and daughter bonding, and the challenges of maturing.
The residency project aims at expanding the artists' spectrum of cultural experiences, and offer insight into the beginnings of civilization. The program enhances the artist's understanding of how art and poetry may have a soothing effect on human agonies.
The Road To Elefsina addresses artists from various disciplines, placing emphasis on objects, performance, jewelry, textiles, and their special connection with mysteries of transcendence.
The program includes intensive workshops in storytelling, performance and video. The residency follows an online introduction to the significance of Greek heritage for contemporary artists.
• Watch the video trailer •
For 2,000 years, a farming community close to Athens was the spiritual center of the ancient world. Pilgrims from all over came to Eleusis (modern-day Elefsina) to be initiated to mysteries befriending them with death. Men, women, free people, and slaves, Greeks and foreigners watched the myth of Persephone staged and revived in the sacred site of Eleusis, and witnessed the young goddess returning from Hades.
Sacred rituals including recitation, performance, and presentation of sacred objects taught initiates the secret of immortal bliss.
If it were not one of the most important religious ceremonies of the ancient world, it could have been one of the most glamorous art events of all times.
The Road to Elefsina focuses on the myth of a girl becoming a woman and the art representations connected to it, as well as on the social background, history and concepts of the Eleusinian mysteries, also called "orgies". Residents are challenged to explore the myth of Persephone, her abduction, sacred marriage and death, and give their own interpretation of eternal flow.
The artists residency also aims at making contact with the past through a ritual walk; a ritual performance inspired by illustrations on vases, murals, statues, objects is also part of retrieving an elusive experience through the body.The program offers insight into the vast history of Greek civilization that manifests itself, often unnoticed. in the most unusual and tacky places of modern Athens topography.
The mysteries of Eleusis were also taught by revealing the sacred objects to the initiates during the ceremony of the midnight sun. What kind of objects were shown to illustrate the meaning of life and the antidote to death is a question that remains to be answered. We can only speculate how the sacred objects would look like today to reflect sustainable values. Contemporary artists can find meaning and inspiration in the concept of Philokalia according to which truth and beauty are one and the same.
The Road to Elefsina encourages the participants to imagine answers to this question. It addresses the need of individual artists and artist communities for an ethical restart; it also takes into account that applied art and jewelry - art objects that can be used - can play an important role in reshaping standards and status quo symbols in times of climate change, social and political unrest.
• 4 days/3 nights accommodation in downtown Athens (see options below).
• Guided tours and open air workshops in Athens and Elefsina.
• Online workshop on the history and mythology of Athens and Elefsina.
• Promotion & publication of the participants' work in the Residents’ Memoirs column of SMCK Magazine..
• 50% OFF participation fee for SMCK ON REEL at Schmuck Munich Jewelry Week 2027.
Each residency unit can be followed by maximum five participants simultaneously. If desired, artists have the possibility to extend their residency (accommodation) by more days.
A - With (single) accommodation in one of our central Athens studio apartments – 780,00 EUR
B - Without accommodation: Participation fee – 450,00 EUR
Thursday, 4 - Sunday, 7 February 2027
The residency fee is paid by the artist in one, two or three installments. Detailed information about the studio apartments in Athens can be found in our >>> studios section (FaveLAB).
Please send your application to magazine@smck.org,
including a cover letter with your motivation, CV, and your website and/or social media link(s). Inform us about your desired residency date(s) and accommodation preference.
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