Weekly supplement by Insider Publications • insider-publications.com • facebook.com/insiderpublications • No 54 • Friday, March 20, 2015 CINEMA 16th Francophone Film Festival
CONCERT 2nd Ambassadors in Concert
A classical music concert for charity by diplomats to raise money for the SOS children’s village in Vari. VIP tickets include an invitation to the cocktail reception. On March 26. Onassis Cultural Centre 107-109 Syngrou Avenue, 210.900.5800, sgt.gr
The 16th edition of the Francophone Film Festival, as every spring, brings the best of French language cinema to Greece. Romance, action, drama, comedy, suspense and even bone-chilling horror. From March 19 to April 2 ifa.gr, festivalfilmfrancophone.gr.
Favourite Five
dalism, but among it are beautiful, insightful works by increasingly respected street artists. Numbered among the top 100 contemporary artists in the world, Greece’s Stelios Faitakis started his career with a vast mural outside an olive oil factory. To discover the next generation of
Fresh perspectives by Cordelia Madden-Kanellopoulou
So you’ve climbed up to the Parthenon and taken a few selfies with the Caryatids; you’ve wolfed down a souvlaki, and perhaps chugged around the city centre on the ‘Happy Train’. But, as a visitor to Athens or even a proud resident, can you pick out the Athenian equivalent of Banksy from the tagging hoi polloi? Have you cycled to taste new-generation retsina at one of the capital’s wineries? Have you ever run down Alexandras Avenue at full tilt – without chasing after a bus or a filched wallet? For a different take, try one of these alternative ways to see the city.
1) Whether seasoned marathoner or fairweather jogger, the Athens Half-Marathon offers you the streets of Athens entirely vehicle-free for one whole morning. Admire buildings you’ve never noticed on the daily drag; enjoy the cooler air as you breeze along the edge of Zappeio Gardens, the delightful descent down Alexandras, and the triumphant finish in front
eager for a cuddle as they are for the kibble. All the 400-plus cats fed daily by Nine Lives Greece are neutered or spayed, so as not to increase the stray cat overpopulation, and get veterinary care when ill or injured. See ninelivesgreece.com 3) Visitors to this city are often struck by the prevalence of graffiti. Much of it is unremarkable, some downright van-
talents, who better to show you around than a graffiti artist himself? The Dopios Street Art Tour is led by street-artist Manolis, who takes you on a 4-hour walk around the city to learn to read the writing on the wall. See dopios.com 4) A ripe bunch of working wineries flourish within a pip’s throw of the city (some are closer than the airport). Discover the wine roads of Athens with a pedal-powered tour by Cycling4Wine. They provide the bikes, itinerary and guide; you just spin and sample. Local grape Savatiano is moving into the limelight, while longderided retsina is making a comeback with lighter, fresher versions. Cycling4Wine also offer a city tour that fetches up at a wine-bar for sundowners. Contact n.themos@gmail.com for details. 5) Holiday snaps can be disappointing. You’re so busy looking through a screen that you miss the sheer awe of that sunset or site, and when you look through the pictures you find they’re spoilt by unfortunate lighting or the back of some stranger’s head. For Instagram-perfect pictures, join the Photography Workshop tour of Athens by the Big Olive team; they’ll take you to the city’s most photogenic spots, and school you in all the skills you need to turn moments into masterpieces. www.bigolive.org
Music
Photography
of Parliament. If the full 21.1km feels like too much effort, there’s a speedy 5km option. Race date: May 3. Register at athinahalfmarathon.gr 2) Stray cats are everywhere in Athens: they sun themselves on the Acropolis ramparts, lurk underneath bins, and find shelter in derelict buildings. To get a look at life in the capital on four paws, join the volunteers at Nine Lives Greece for a Cat Tour. It’s like accompanying the Pied Piper around Hamelin: seemingly empty backstreets fill with meowing moggies as the volunteers approach, and most are as
UPCOMING EVENTS
Exhibitions
The Athens Singers sing for the benefit of the Philodassiki Enossi Athinon on March 31at 8:30pm at the Parnassos Literary Society under the musical direction of Roger Tilley. Parnassos Literary Society, 8 Ag. Georgiou, Karytsi Sq., Athens For reservations: 210 723.4567, ticketservices.gr Family A photo exhibition, Family, depicting quotidian scenes, curated Plato Rivellis runs at the Benaki Museum from March 21 until May 24. Koumbari 1, 210.364.5577, photocircle.gr, benaki.gr
Alkis Pierrakos Pierrakos dramatically outlines the sense of a fierce clash using a series of drawings with ink on paper until March 28 at the N. Hadjikyriakos-Ghika Gallery, Kriezotou 3, 210.361.5702, benaki.gr
Exhibitions Hygeia. Health, Illness, Treatment from Homer to Galen A tour from 1200 BC to the 3rd century AD of the evolution of ancient healing practices, examining the transition from magic-religious healing to rational, scientific
medicine including three thematic sections: Health, Illness and Treatment and over 300 ancient artifacts. Neophytou Douka 4, 210.722.8321, cycladic.gr
Join OTE TV and National Geographic Channel for Brain Games and participate in experimental games and educational activities at the Athens Science Festival from 17 to 22 Μarch at Technopolis, Gazi Tel: 210369.2337, athens-science-festival.gr
CULTURE
High priestess of Cycladic culture
Sandra Marinopoulou, President of the Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris Foundation’s Museum of Cycladic Art, in conversation with Insider Weekly on creating awareness of Cycladic culture through the museum and beyond How has the Cycladic Museum risen to the challenge of promoting culture in the midst of an economic crisis?
Alluring Easter escapes
at Costa Navarino
stress. The complex boasts gourmet dining options that cater to every palate, and some even mirroring Greek Easter customs. For families with restless kids, the top-of-the-line children’s facilities, multiple sport and outdoor options and pick of historic landmarks and natural sites makes Costa Navarino an ideal destination to have a real break while children are kept creatively busy. Explore the 3 or 4 night night stay options for Easter at The Romanos Resort and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino at westincostanavarino.com, romanoscostanavarino.com, costanavarino.com
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Indian Tea AND Food festival Savour India’s rich culinary traditions at the Hotel Astir every evening from 25 to 29 March. Create Indian dishes at cooking workshops on 26, 27 and 28 March from 11.30 am to 1.30pm and tea tasting workshops daily from 5 to 7pm. Astir Palace Resort, Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni, 210 890.2000, arionresortathens.com, astir-palace.com
by ancient artefacts, statues and texts – underlining the relevance of ancient medicine to our contemporary lifestyle! From the dawn of its existence, humanity has striven to improve all aspects of living conditions. They were as obsessed with therapies, treatments, diagnosois and diets as we are! How can one become an MCA friend and contribute to the Museum? One could contribute by volunteering and our website gives information on how to become an MCA Friend. These friends are critical for the Museum and we offer a rich weekly cultural programme with cultural excursions to archaeological sites, other museums, and even trips abroad plus of course, free entrance, discounts at the museum shop etc for all our members. Why should one absolutely visit the Cycladic Museum? We house the most complete private collection of Cycladic art in the world. It is a small museum, in the heart of the city, so it is an easy way to absorb a few aspects of Greek culture in a short span of time and to get an insight into early living practices in antiquity. Plus our cosy café-
TV THIS WEEK Criminal Minds 10
A psycho drama that reveals the darkest machinations of an evil mind Premieres on Friday, 20th of March at 21:30 on FOX
Walking Dead 5
The fifth season of the horror–drama television series, based on the series of comic books of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Every Monday at 22:30 on FOX
The Fashion Fund 2
Anna Wintour, the legendary editor of Vogue magazine oversees a competition in which 10 designers get a chance to work alongside fashion industry luminaries. Every Wednesday at 20:10 on FOXlife Watch FOX and FOXLife on OTE TV
Despite the crisis, we have managed to host two large exhibitions, BEYOND: Death and Afterlife in ancient Greece’ which concluded in February and ‘Hygieia: Health, Illness and Treatment from Homer to Galen’ which will run until May 31. The exhibition presents approximately 300 artifacts with the participation of 41 international museums, including the Louvre, the British Museum, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and the Musei Capitolini. The exhibitions have attracted over 50,000 visitors to date and we are pleased to announce a positive trend in museum visits – an increase of 110% compared to the year before. It was a challenging exercise to raise funds for the exhibitions but we managed to do so with the help of our sponsors who saw the value of our cultural offering. We have also made special efforts to make the Museum more accessible to the public by reducing entrance fees by half on Mondays and offering free guided tours (included in the entrance fee) on weekends. What are the key aspects of the ongoing Iasis exhibition that you’d like to highlight? The exhibition provides an overview of the evolution of ancient medical practices: the transition from magico-religious healing practices to rational, scientific medicine. Walking into the exhibition space, one is transported into a modern, pristine, spa-like zone with ushers dressed in clinical white overcoats while surrounded
restaurant offers great food and wi-fi in an oasis of tranquility! Could you please highlight some of the Cycladic Museum’s programmes focusing on children? Are there special activities targeting the international community? We host 7 schools daily and our weekend programmes for children and parents is hugely popular. All our ongoing exhibitions have a parallel children’s exhibition and we take a lot of pride in our ‘cultural tool-kit’ specifically designed to teach children about Cycladic culture. We have now translated it into English and have even begun sending it abroad to create international awareness. For our international visitors, the archaeologists at the Cycladic museum speak English and for groups, English guides can be booked by appointment.
CINEMA THIS WEEK Cinderella
A live action film inspired by the classic Disney tale, the story of Cinderella follows the fortunes of young Ella whose father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. An absolute must see.
Black Sea
To make good with his former employers, a submarine captain, Jude Law takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a submarine rumored to be loaded with gold.
FILS DE GRECE
Directed by Dionysis Grigoratos, this powerful movie analyses the oft- repressed dark period of the Greek Civil War
BEAUTY
When Beauty meets Art
TRAVEL
Nowhere are the Easter rituals as beautiful and as solemn as they are in Greece. To relive the magic of Greek Easter, with its unique customs and traditions, surrounded by Messinia’s untouched natural beauty, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino offer a great getaway to experience first-hand local rituals and festivities. Besides immersing into Messinian culture, the two award-winning properties also offer infinite possibilities to hone one’s golfing skills at its two signature golf courses and the sprawling 4000m2 Anazoe Spa is a salve for urban
FESTIVAL 2nd ATHENS SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Owner of the prestigious Valmont line, renowned as much for its cosmetics as the superlative aesthetics of its packaging, Didier Guillon shares his views on combining beauty and art to create cosmetic collectibles. Since its inception, Valmont has worked to preserve the beauty of all skins from the
Didier Guillon with Isao Artigas
ravages of time by combining Swiss medical tradition and state-of-the-art technology. Founded in 1985 in Montreux, Switzerland, Valmont has always laid emphasis on the brand’s art component. Guillon believes that “Brands can no longer be self-centered. They must build bridges toward other universes, draw connections with other types of influential trends and become one with the spirit of their time.” Didier Guillon transferred his passion for minimal art into his cosmetic brand and collaborating with leading artists such as Sol Lewitt, Carl Andre, Brigit Riley amongst others, Valmont continued to infuse art in its visuals, packaging design, cosmetic counters and spa treatment rooms. The influence of these artists is only too evident in the perfect simplicity of white cubes and squares on Valmont’s cosmetics. Then under the influence of Isao Artigas, a Spanish-Japanese artist who uses ceramics as his chosen material for artistic expression and whose iconic works portray creatures, such as birds and butterflies, as symbols of life, Didier Guillon introduced a poetic film based on butterflies into Valmont’s spa treatment rooms, adding an original holistic touch to relaxa-
tion. Isao’s butterfly has also become a symbol of beauty for Valmont. Hydra was the first stop in a series of worldwide exhibitions where a pop-up spa was set in the summer of 2013 at the Archives Museum of Hydra as a beauty complement to an art exhibition entitled ‘Plats d’Artistes’, a collaboration between the Josep Llorens Artigas Foundation and Valmont. The exhibition has since travelled to other destinations, as Guillon believes in employing art as a brand identity to differentiate the Swiss beauty house from its competitors. “It’s not just a travelling but a living exhibition involving an increasing number of artists and plates,” said Guillon. “A plate is an object that we use every day. The artists have etched their talent and stories on its surface.” To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Valmont further strengthened its connection to art through the Artists Collection project that gathers together 9 works by 9 contemporary artists created just for the collection. Launched in New York in 2014, the Artists Collection will tour the V35 network, the brand’s special club of international prestige spas. In Greece, Valmont is represented by Orloff Spa. Orloffspa.gr