In the remote village of Antia in Evoia, Greece, lies the Sfyria language. This unique form of communication, characterized by melodic chirps and whistles, is threatened by globalization. Mr. Tzanavaris has dedicated over a decade to preserving Sfyria, striving to unveil this linguistic gem to Greece and the world. His fourteen years of teaching and advocacy showcase human resilience against cultural erosion. Similar endangered languages in remote, mountainous villages globally echo this struggle. "Chirps and Whistles: Sfyria Language" underscores the link between cultural and ecological conservation, emphasizing our collective responsibility to preserve both heritage and nature.
"Environ" provokes a conversation between the naturoid, the gallery space and the viewer. Allowing the audience to start asking questions about the installation itself, and its placement within the gallery. A naturoid is a combination of technology and nature, and with this combination, we have the emergence of new structures and processes. In "Environ", emphasis is placed on the interaction of natural processes and the man-made elements in today’s world, demonstrating our approach towards the environment.
"Environ" consists of natural and artificial structures. The use of natural material refers us to the imperfect patterns of the natural world, while artificial comments on the accurate and industrially made technological materials. The use of these materials highlights the difference and the dynamic of these two worlds. The human impact, the choices we make about the materials we use and insert in our lives, build the world that surrounds us. Our everyday use of technology, either consciously or unconsciously, affects our view of our surroundings. The details that we pay attention to and the things that we ignore.
“ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα” was created by my immersion in the world of Greek monasteries. The simplicity and humility that defines the life of nuns creates an environment that invites the soul to purify, stripping away worldly attachments and ego driven desires. However it requires unwavering devotion not only to the Devine, but to themselves and this unique way of life they have chosen. The work stands as a testament to their complete surrender for something greater, inspired by their most powerful spiritual moment, their collective prayers, a very defining moment of theirs.
In a process of realization regarding our position within spatial and conceptual frames, Spatial Separation is a performance project that attempts an intimate observation of one’s interaction with their environment. The documented performance involves myself, inserted into a state where I am required to consistently bear a pocket that is stacked with small round plastic beads; during the performance, which lasted fourteen days incessantly, I aimed to experience my daily life normally, with the sole exception that, whenever I stayed in a space for one hour or more, I had to pull one bead out of my pocket and mark my presence.
It can be said that no other product is more closely connected to its place of origin than mastiha is to my home, the island of Chios, where Mastic gum, or mastiha, prized for its healing qualities has been defining the island’s history for centuries and is an inseparable part of the island’s identity.
The Tears of Chios investigates the story of Mastiha in shaping the history, traditions, and customs of the island of Chios. Despite regime changes over the centuries, industrialization, technological advances, social and cultural transformations, the production of mastic continues to shape the life of the people of Chios.
