The Warp of Time
MNHMH 01
The project in partnership with Old Carpet Factory and Soutzoglou carpets explores memory, heritage, and artistic expression on Hydra Island.
Site-Specific Art Exhibition
Old Carpet Factory, Hydra
16 June - September 8, 2024
Curator - Ekaterina Juskowski
Curatorial advisors - Dimitrios Antonitsis, Electra Soutzoglou
Co-Produced with Mnemosyne Projects
Central to the exhibition is the site of the historical Hydra mansion that was transformed into a carpet-weaving factory of the Soutzoglou family in the early 20th century. 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 historiography of the place.
1920s weaving cartoon from the Soutzoglou family's archives.
Notably, the exhibition showcases antique pieces from the Soutzoglou collection woven in the house a century ago by the first generation of the family. Going hand in hand with the theme of tradition and modernity, past and present, artist Helen Marden experiments for the first time with the carpet as a medium. Her intuitive watercolors inspired by the memories of Hydra Island are translated into the hand-made carpets by Soutzoglou expert artisans.
Adding to the exhibition are works of Dimitrios Antonitsis that blur the boundaries between art and tapestry. 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.
The Warp of Time Objects
A special limited edition art book about Hydra island and its creative heritage through the history of the famed 18th century mansion was published on the occasion of The Warp of Time art exhibition. Known locally as Old Carpet Factory, the house belongs to music producer and collector Stephan Colloredo - Mansfeld, who turned the property into a unique recording studio that became a refuge for artists seeking the simplicity and beauty of the past.
Limited to 500 copies, the double-sided accordion-fold publication—housed in a slipcase. The inside covers reproduce pages of a guest book signed by artists, musicians, and friends of the Old Carpet Factory.
The Warp of Time, 2024
Exhibition cover: Helen Marden, Summer
Limited edition, 250 copies
