The artist residency programme Thermia Project returns for the fourth consecutive year on the island of Kythnos. The participating artists for 2025 are Eugenia Vereli, Iasonas Kampanis, and Natalia Manta. This year, the theme focuses on the creatures of myths, folktales, and traditional songs of Kythnos, explored through a contemporary visual perspective. The residency will conclude with the exhibition Hidden MythologiesItalic, curated by Odette Kouzou, hosted at the Primary School of Chora, in Kythnos, from July 12 to July 20, 2025, with free admission for the public.
The artists were hosted at the Thermia Project house in Kythnos from April 24 to May 11, where they conducted artistic research on local folk art and traditions, creating new works inspired by the island’s unique character. The works that will be presented in the Hidden Mythologies exhibition, from July 12 to 20, 2025, draw their inspiration from the creatures that inhabit the realm of folklore, as captured in the fairy tales, folk songs, legends, myths, and traditions of Kythnos. The people of Kythnos still hear whispers and murmurs of these beings - monsters, spirits, and mythical figures - echoing through the island’s narrow alleys, forming an invisible yet palpable presence that bridges the past with the present, imagination with collective memory, and humanity with the "Other." This year’s theme examines the role of imaginary creatures in the daily life and cultural fabric of small, remote communities like that of Kythnos, suggesting how artistic processes can reveal new ways of being and understanding a place. The “monster” of folklore emerges as a symbol, sparking reflection on the values that shape a community, offering new possibilities for the relationship between contemporary art and local society.
The project is made possible through the financial support of the Thermia Project Patronage Programme, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) grant, and the kind support of the Municipality of Kythnos.
Transportation Sponsor: Triton Ferries
Opening Sponsor: Bombay Sapphire
Supporters: ArtVolt, Cat With Hat
📌 Exhibition Opening: July 12, 2025
📌 Exhibition Dates: July 12 – 20, 2025
📌 Location: Primary School, Chora, Kythnos
📌 Admission: Free