SALTY FIELDS
An exhibition by Aggeliki Loi & Dimitra Skandali
with accompanying events
Curated by: Nina Fragopoulou in collaboration with: Manolis Karterakis
The Herakleidon Museum is pleased to present the exhibition titled Salty fields by Aggeliki Loi & Dimitra Skandali from December 10, 2019 to March 29, 2020, curated by Dr. Nina Fragopoulou, Marine Biologist, in collaboration with Manolis Karterakis, Art Historian.
The exhibition Salty fields highlights an “artistic concern” on the marine environment through contemporary art inspired by marine vegetation, i.e. seagrasses and seaweeds. Using installations, constructions, drawings and mixed media art works, the exhibition aims at raising our awareness and personal involvement about environmental issues. The exhibition is accompanied by scientific lectures and an educational programme for school students, along with the 6th Hellenic Educational Symposium of Phycology.
Seagrasses are found on sandy seabed, in many coastal regions of the world ocean. They are often confused with seaweeds, but are actually more closely related to the flowering plants that you see on land. In the Mediterranean Sea, seagrasses form underwater beds (or meadows) mainly by an endemic species Posidonia oceanica, which has long ribbon-like leaves. Dead leaves of Posidonia are usually sheen along the shore as accumulations of dried material. Posidonia beds host an incredibly diverse community of animals, playing a fundamental role in the productivity and function of the marine ecosystem. Seaweeds or macroalgae, on the other hand, differ from seagrasses in several ways. They are found mainly attached on rocks and depending on the species have different colors (green, brown or red). Some coralline red algae form “coralligenous” reefs of high biodiversity. In addition to macroalgae, which have relatively large size, there are numerous microscopic algae, called microalgae. Most of the microalgae are components of phytoplankton, which is drifting by the water currents close to the sea surface. All these diverse, fabulous organisms are photosynthetic and produce half of the oxygen we breathe, contributing to the evolution and maintenance of life on earth. Seagrasses along with seaweeds constitute marine vegetation, which besides its environmental importance supply many major services to people as well.
Aggeliki Loi: Born in the town of Nafpaktos, Greece. She has first studied Dental Technology and has attended painting lessons near G. Rorris. She studied painting at the School of Fine Arts in Athens (2010-2015) under the supervision of Y. Psychopedis and M. Spiliopoulos. During her studies she was honored with a praise and two awards. Her work has been presented in 4 solo exhibitions in Greece (2005, 2011, 2018, 2019) and 2 in Switzerland (2015, 2016), and has participated in many group exhibitions in Greece and abroad. In 2018, she received the first prize of Michael Cacoyiannis Foundation for the exhibition “The role of art in preserving the historical memory”. She is a member of the JJc group of artists.
aggelikhloh@hotmail.com
“For years I’ve had the nagging dream
of finding the path
through the seaweeds
and setting sail into the open sea…”
Dimitra Skandali grew up in Alyki of Paros, Greece. She graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts in 2010, and from the San Francisco Art Institute, where she pursued her MFA in New Genres in 2013. Since then, she has lived and worked in both lands. With her work she explores ways of connection and a dialogue between the two places and their ways: a dialogue between east and west, or an attempt to connect tradition with innovation, or even emotion with rationality. Her work has been shown worldwide with 16 solo exhibitions so far. Her distinctions include several awards, inclusions in artist-in-residence programs throughout the United States, and scholarships from The San Francisco Foundation and San Francisco Art Institute. http://dimitraskandali.com, dimskandali@gmail.com
“Hands writing at the bottom of the seas,
dancing in time,
bringing closer places and people,
whispering salty rhymes.”
LECTURES
Monday, January 13, 19:00 - 21:00
Seaweeds, seagrasses and the endless blue
Maria Salomidi, Research Associate, Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR)
Video by Dr. Yiannis Issaris, Researcher HCMR
Monday, February 10, 19:00 - 20:30
Mapping the seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica in the Greek Seas
George Papatheodorou, Professor, Dept. of Geology – Dean of School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras
Monday, March 9, 19:00 - 20:30
Man and algae: an up to date overview with a projection to the future
Dr. Yiannis Tzovenis, Researcher, Lab of Ecology and Systematics,
Dept. of Biology, University of Athens
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS
Biology and Art: Seagrasses & Seaweeds
Design-Scientific consultation & Implementation
Dr. N. Fragopoulou, Marine Biologist
6th EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF PHYCOLOGY
Organized by: Hellenic Phycological Society
Under the Auspices of Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs
March 27 – 29, Herakleidon Museum