A Unique Fusion of Tradition and Modern Art Curated by Ekaterina Juskowski
Embark on a journey through "The Warp of Time," an exhibition at the Old Carpet Factory on Hydra Island, in Greece.
Curated by Ekaterina Juskowski, this unique event showcases the works of Helen Marden and Dimitrios Antonitsis, blending the rich traditions of Soutzoglou Carpets with modern artistic expressions.
This celebration of 100 years of shared history between the Old Carpet Factory and Soutzoglou Carpets offers an eloquent exploration of memory, tradition, and modernity in a setting that is both nostalgic and inspiring.
THE WARP OF TIME
To celebrate 100 years of shared history, Old Carpet Factory and Soutzoglou Carpets present a site-specific exhibition: The Warp of Time.
Curated by Ekaterina Juskowski, Founder and Director of the Art Residency at the Old Carpet Factory, the exhibition will be an exploration of memory, heritage, and artistic expression.
Central to the exhibition is the site of the Old Carpet Factory historical Hydra mansion that was transformed into a carpet-weaving factory of the Soutzoglou family in the early 20th century.
Inspired by Hydra Island, Helen Marden's watercolor is beautifully translated into a handmade carpet by Soutzoglou artisans. This piece masterfully blends traditional craftsmanship with modern artistic expression, capturing the vibrant essence of Marden's original watercolor. The right image shows a detailed view of the intricate design, while the left image places the artwork in a serene, light-filled setting, embodying the tranquil beauty of Hydra. Photo by Sarah Rainer
This legacy inspires the title of the exhibition that offers a nuanced exploration of the relationship between place and memory.
Unlike history, memory lacks linearity and includes the act of forgetting; by mixing history and memory, the exhibition invites the viewer to navigate through the past remembered, forgotten and imagined, presenting a warped histography of the place.
Notably, the exhibition will showcase one antique piece from the Soutzoglou collection that was woven in the house a century ago by the first generation of the family.
Helen Marden’s watercolor finds new life in a handmade carpet crafted by Soutzoglou artisans, seamlessly merging traditional techniques with contemporary art. The intricate design, shown in detail on the right, reflects the vibrant and fluid nature of Marden's watercolor. Photo by Sarah Rainer
Going hand in hand with the theme of tradition and modernity, past and present, Art Rug Projects by Soutzoglou invites renowned artist, Helen Marden, especially for this exhibition, to experiment for the first time with the carpet as a medium.
Her intuitive watercolors inspired by the memories of Hydra Island will be translated into the hand-made carpets by Soutzoglou expert artisans.
This unique collaboration bridges the gap between past and present, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistic vision.
Curator - Ekaterina Juskowski
Curatorial advisors - Dimitrios Antonitsis, Electra Soutzoglou Co-Produced with Mnemosyne Projects
Adding to the exhibition are works of Dimitrios Antonitsis that blur the boundaries between art and tapestry.
Dimitrios Antonitsis' "loom-abacuses". These intricate works of art blur the lines between drawings, sculptures, and temporal artifacts. By combining traditional weaving techniques with modern artistic vision, Antonitsis creates pieces that evoke a sense of timelessness and innovation. The detailed view showcases the delicate craftsmanship and conceptual depth of these unique artworks. Photo by Sarah Rainer
Described by the artist as “loom-abacuses,” these intricate pieces defy categorization, oscillating between drawings, sculptures, and temporal artifacts.
Their presence within the exhibition further enriches the dialogue on the intersection of art, memory, and heritage.
About the Artists - The warp of time - Old Carpet Factory Exhibition
Helen Marden born in Pittsburgh, in 1941. She graduated with a BFA in art from Pennsylvania State University in 1963, and then, inspired by Paul Bowles’s translations of storytellers such as Mohamed Mrabet of Tangier, traveled to Europe and Morocco before relocating to New York City.
Helen Marden’s paintings feature a vivid palette informed by her travels to Greece, India, and Morocco.
Using resin to bind color-saturated acrylics and raw powdered pigments with found objects such as shells, feathers, and sea glass, she invests the aesthetics and techniques of expressive abstraction with renewed variety and purpose.
In both inspiration and her chosen mediums, her paintings are rooted in the natural world while offering a connection to the spiritual realm through conviction and intuition.
Helen Marden is represented by Gagosian Gallery.
Dimitrios Antonitsis - Artist-Designer- Curator ( Hydra School Project)
Dimitrios Antonitsis born in Athens, in 1966. He studied mechanical engineering at the Zurich ETH and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York (Master of Science), where he specialised in the high-speed microscopic photography of vortex rings.
Dominique Catherina Foertig
He won an award for his short film Past Glories, Present Despondencies, a collaboration with Robert De Niro’s production company. His work has appeared in 15 solo and 55 group exhibitions in Greece and abroad.
He is the founder and curator of HSP ‘Hydra School Projects’, an international platform for the visual arts and the HSP Residency Program.
Held annually since 2000 the Hydra School Projects, named because these contemporary art exhibitions are shown at the old Hydra High School, showcase the work of up-and-coming, young Greek as well as international artists alongside those already well established.
Dimitrios Antonitsis at Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center Athens
Art Rug Projects by Soutzoglou: Weaving Tradition and Contemporary Art on Hydra Island
Art Rug Projects by Soutzoglou focuses on the interactive collaboration with Greek and international contemporary artists whose selected works are transformed into handmade rugs and tapestries as original works of art, either as limited editions or as unique pieces.
Every collaboration is an opportunity for the artist to discover a new medium, to expand their practice in new ways, imagining the rug as their canvas. Carpet-making is linked with the tradition of the past, whereas contemporary art is an expression of the present.
Helen Marden close-up | Exhibition "The Warp of Time" - Old Carpet Factory | Photo by Sarah Rainer.
By adapting age-old traditions in a modern context, Art Rug Projects “weaves” heritage, history and handicraft with contemporary art and creative expression.
Old Carpet Factory Recording Studio and Art Residency is located on Hydra Island in Greece.
Since its founding in 2016 by producer Stephan Colloredo-Mansfeld, the studio has gained international acclaim for its unconventional setting in a remote location, an extensive list of cult vintage and rare analog gear.
Art Residency at the Old Carpet Factory founded by curator, researcher and photographer Ekaterina Juskowski in 2019 is a highly selective program with the mission to record and preserve Hydra’s cultural heritage, to support new creative ideas, and to expand access to the unique cultural setting of the island and its community.
Preserving Cultural Memory: Mnemosyne Projects' Global Non-Profit Initiative
Mnemosyne Projects is a global non-profit initiative dedicated to the preservation of authentic sites of memory.
Through research, curation, and strategic partnerships Mnemosyne Projects identify, record and archive cultural phenomena that hold historical significance in the collective creative memory of communities.
Mnemosyne Projects -> Read more
Its mission is to ensure that these symbols of our shared past continue to inspire, educate, and resonate with people today and in the future.
About the Exhibition "The Warp of Time" at Old Carpet Factory
The exhibition will be open from 11am-6pm during opening week June 16-21 For the rest of the exhibition’s duration, viewing by appointment only: hello@oldcarpetfactory.com
Exciting news from Munchies Art Club Magazine!
This July, we’ll be on location at the Old Carpet Factory, sharing our experiences from this unique contemporary art venue.
Join us as we explore what this small island has to offer the contemporary art world this summer 2024.
Stay with us as we visit the new exhibition at the Slaughterhouse DESTE Foundation featuring the artist George Condo titled "THE MAD AND THE LONELY", and of course, my dear friend Dimitris Antonitsis's "School Project" entitled "8 Woman".
We can't wait to be there and share these incredible artistic experiences! Don't Miss Out!
