“Golden and woolen braids with twisted golden cords”

Drawing inspiration from the costumes in the collections, as well as selected folkloric exhibits and historical heirlooms of the Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia, the exhibition presents an organic dialogue with the participation of significant contemporary visual artists.

Within the display cases and open spaces of the exhibition sections “Macedonian Society” at the Museum, beginning with an original core of garments, jewelry, and folkloric objects from its collections, contemporary small- and medium-scale works are presented. These works draw inspiration from the form and material, the motifs and symbolism, as well as the aesthetic and conceptual imprint of these objects in today’s world.

The uniform of the Macedonian fighter Georgios Roumpesis (Kapetan Tzavaras), the traditional women’s costume from Alexandria, Imathia (Gidas), along with additional elements of a second identical costume, the women’s costume of Morichovo, and part of the women’s attire of Paschalina Toparlani from Melissochori (Baltza), as well as various other folkloric objects, served as points of departure and inspiration for the participants.

Working with different media (painting, sculpture, weaving, embroidery, engraving, carving, jewelry-making, construction, etc.), combining contemporary and traditional techniques and imaginative uses of lightweight materials (fabric, thread, paper, beads, plaster, wax, etc.), in dialogue with the original objects and drawing from diverse fragments of visual and tactile memory, the participating artists present selected earlier works as well as new reference works created specifically for the exhibition. These works encompass dense historical, aesthetic, and conceptual meanings. Altogether, the works of the thirty-eight participating artists, organically embracing the concept and significance of continuity through time, propose new approaches within contemporary fields of form, interpretation, and use.

Exhibition Curator: Iris Kritikou, Archaeologist–Art Historian

Participating Artists

Christina Athanasoula-Mantzavinou, Eirini Arampatzidou, Lela Arvaniti, Ariadni Vitastali, Mary Galani-Kritikou, Tania Dimitrakopoulou, Maria Diakodimitriou, Ismini Douzeni, Christina Douzeni, Eirini Zaimi, Katerina Kalitsounaki, Despoina Kalliga, Vaso Kaloudioti, Georgia Karakousi, Vasilis Kilitslis, Anastasios Madamopoulos, Varvara Maltezou, Lydia Margaroni, Minas Mavrikakis, Giotis Balodimos, Manos Batzolis, Rouli Boua, Aleka Myrilla, Dionysia Papadopoulou, Marietta Papacheimona, Vangelis Polyzos, Michalis Sakalis, Katerina Sarafi, Iphigenia Sdoukou, Zoe Sekleizioti, Eleni Siousti, Chrysa Skordaki, Katerina Stathatou, Marina Stellatou, Konstantina Tzavidopoulou, Zefi Tiftiktsoglou, Nikos Triantafyllou, Claire Tsalouchidi-Chatzimina, Argyres Chatzimallis.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Opening: Friday, 13 February 2026, 19:00
Organized by: Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA)
Curator: Iris Kritikou, Archaeologist–Art Historian
Coordination: Athena Pavlidou, Philologist–Museologist, Director of IMMA
Duration: 13 February – 13 March 2026
Admission: Museum entrance ticket
Opening Hours: Museum opening hours

Mon: 9:00–14:00
Tue: 9:00–14:00
Wed: 9:00–20:00
Thu: 9:00–14:00
Fri: 9:00–14:00
Sat: 10:00–14:00
Sun: Closed