TEARS OF OBLIVION

Drawing inspiration from the greek orthodox tradition of votive offerings, the TAMATA project explores the relationship between folk tradition, faith and imagination. These fragile, embroidered pieces offer poetic reflections on hopes and longings expressed through symbols and words.

ΓΙ’ ΑΥΤΟ ΟΙ ΚΟΓΧΕΣ ΑΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΑΔΕΙΑΝΕΣ ΚΑΠΟΤΕ ΘΑ ΠΛΗΜΜΥΡΙΣΟΥΝ ΤΑ ΔΑΚΡΥΑ ΛΗΘΗ ΚΑΙ Η ΚΑΡΔΙΑ ΜΑΣ ΘΑ ΒΓΕΙ ΠΑΛΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ (SO LET THE NICHES BE EMPTY — ONE DAY TEARS OF OBLIVION WILL FLOOD AND OUR HEARTS WILL RISE ONCE MORE FROM THE SEA)

ΤΑ ΔΑΚΡΥΑ ΛΗΘΗ (TEARS OF OBLIVION), artist’s book, embroidery with cotton thread, foil, tape, 5 pages, 18x18cm, 2025

A brief note on the poem ΝΑ ΚΟΙΜΟΜΑΣΤΕ ΠΑΝΩ ΣΤΗ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ (TO SLEEP ON THE SEA)

This poem traces its origin to a phrase spoken by my nephew, Sotiris Stavropoulos, at the age of five, and passed on to me by my sister, Leta Karava. Water and the sea have long been at the heart of my imagination and work, just as they were in my father’s poetry. They feel like an inseparable part of our family mythology, flowing naturally into the next generation.

To sleep on the sea and dream that we are on land, swimming. — S. Stavropoulos

The sea passed through the eyes of the nets, into their own eyes, and they wanted nothing more than to sleep beside it and caress it. — T. Karavas

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