Athens’ Outdoor Art Exhibition Sends Message Against Gender-based Violence

Some of the messages depicted on the #NotAlone artworks: “Woman”; “You are not alone”; “Our naked truth”; “Silence kills”, “You are not the only one and you are not alone”.

The Municipality of Athens is hosting an outdoor art exhibition near central Syntagma square to raise public awareness against femicides and gender-based violence.

Held on the pedestrian walkway of Vasilissis Olgas, the exhibition is part of an annual campaign titled #NotAlone launched by the ART HUB Athens, a space open to people that wish to collaborate, test ideas and discover new perspectives on life, through art.

The Municipality of Athens is contributing to the campaign by providing its special stands on Vasilisis Olgas street for the display of the artwork.

The “#NotAlone Open Air” art exhibition is scheduled to run until September 8.

Athens supporting women – victims

According to the organizers, the value crisis of modern societies, the lack of education and collective silence are the main factors of the escalation of femicides in recent years.

The number of victims keeps rising, while survivors continue to experience psychological and physical traumas.

“Each woman – victim of gender-based violence is one of our own people: our wife, daughter, mother,” Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis said.

“We support women – victims to find the strength to escape (the abuse) while through art we raise awareness and call on people to condemn and report incidents of violence,” he added.

The exhibition features artists Elena Karanikolou (Missy Merida), Angeliana Koroniou (Foxy Lady), Eleftheria Makroglou Panousaki (Eleftheria Mak Pan), Maria Mylona (Rima Lyma), Yiannis Tzomakas, Niki Triantafyllopoulou (Nikia Manikia) and Nikos Tsitsos.

Vasilissis Olgas’ outdoor exhibition area is accessible to people with disabilities.