Athens International Airport Expands its Artistic Landscape with ANADYSSIS II

Photo source: Athens Airport

Athens International Airport (AIA) has added a significant new artwork to its ever-evolving cultural landscape, reinforcing its commitment to artistic and cultural expression.

Continuing its tradition of artistic collaborations, the airport is now home to ANADYSSIS II (EMERGENCE II), a site-specific sculptural installation by Venia Dimitrakopoulou.

Suspended from the dome of the airport’s suburban railway station, the installation invites travelers to pause, lift their gaze, and experience a moment of transcendence. Much like Daedalus’ legendary wings, the sculpture symbolizes the human desire for freedom and elevation.

“An airport is a quintessential transitional space, a place of passage, where people come and go in haste because they have a clear destination,” said artist Venia Dimitrakopoulou.

Exploring themes of identity and belonging

Photo source: Athens Airport

The installation features a metal mesh supporting an octagonal glass dome inscribed with thought-provoking words and phrases, including:

“Ξένος. A stranger. Ξένος παντού. Nowhere to belong. N’ ανήκω κάπου. To belong. Με ακούει κανείς; My voice is not heard.”

These expressions capture the uncertainties of modern existence, while large, curved metallic forms hover above, reinforcing the themes of transition and displacement.

“With ANADYSSIS II, Venia Dimitrakopoulou revisits the theme of the ‘other’ — xenos — a concept that has long been central to her work, but now explored through a fresh perspective,” explains Dr. Evangelia Diamantopoulou, Associate Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Department of Communication and Media Studies.

A fusion of art and structural innovation

Crafted from aluminum panels and Etalbond, the installation seamlessly merges artistic vision with structural ingenuity. The lighting, designed by Eleftheria Deko, enhances the ethereal quality of the piece, while the architectural design is the work of Maria Maneta. To ensure stability and durability, the structural design was developed by Anastasios Dervenagas.

Photo source: Athens Airport

Venia Dimitrakopoulou, a sculptor based between Athens and Aegina, has showcased her work in solo and group exhibitions across Greece and internationally, including France, New York, and Italy. Notably, her Primordial Future trilogy was exhibited in three major cities. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in an intuitive understanding of materials and space, a quality that is evident both in her monumental sculptures and in her more delicate installations.