Page 26 - HelensDress_Vamvakou2020
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Within the covid-19 global context of an ob- sessive social media addiction, e-learning, and digitization of cultures, my experience of Helens ‘dress international e-residency has sig- nificantly expanded the myth of Helen of Troy and it has been a new point of departure for my roles both as a visual artist and an arts educator.
My on-going multidisciplinary prac-tice reflects linear processes of collective narratives. by re- visiting the historical epic poetry of Homer -iliad taught in my childhood, and the various versions of the myth- The universal archetype of Helen has came alive again through the workshops, lectures on embroidery and Greek mythology.
inspired by her multiples identities and roles wit- hin ancient times and reflecting those into con- temporary society, i have started to unfold an ‘idiosyncratic institution’, questioning among ot- hers the fragility of trans- mission of history and culture in the current educational and Sociopo- litical persecution as it is experienced within the global crisis.
by re-using a part of my grandmothers col- lection of handknitted embroidery ; offered as my dowry- i am reflecting on Modern Greek fa- mily tradition, societal and gender suppression and/ or pleasure, as well as contemporary femi- nism.
A montage of embroidery designs, stuck and saw together, have been meticulously transfor- med into more than surfaces of memory, - They adore the cover of an embroidery encyclopae- dia.
My own visual emblem as an artist becomes the Helen’s floor map, used in a theatrical stage put together for a mini video performance in the look for Helen's dress.
My transgression into ‘Helen’s book’ - An oracle that can see the catastrophic comings of the love story, should all provoke new readings of the Greek myth ‘Helen of Troy’...



























































































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