By the Fearsome Sharpness of your Sword

In recognition of International Women's Day, the City of Athens has put together a three-day programme of events to address contemporary issues of gender equality. Aptly (and boldly) titled "By the Fearsome Sharpness of Your Sword: On International Women's Day we Address Gender-Based Violence”, the programme includes talks, exhibitions, film screenings and a series of awareness-raising activities. 

For some context on our use of "boldly" here. Taken from the Greek National Anthem (Hymn to Liberty), the phrase "By the Fearsome Sharpness of your Sword" can easily be interpreted as a reference to the rising rates of gender-based violence in Greece. Talk about tackling things head on. Along with two talks, one aimed at teenage students and one at the general public (though both in Greek), here's what's on the programme:

Georgia Lale, Neighbourhood Guilt, Exhibition, 8-10 March: Created especially for IWD2024, the exhibition will include Lale's highly controversial piece Flag, made of bed sheets belonging to women victims of gender-based violence. It will also include the artwork Map of Greece, which will be created on the spot on the morning of March 8th by teenage students with the help of Lale. All proceeds from the exhibition (a symbolic €2 ticket) will be donated to the non-profit organisation Diotima Center, which specialises in gender and equality issues.

Georgia Lale, Adyton (Sanctuary), Performance, 8.30-11 pm: The artist invites all women and femininities to donate their used (clean) bed sheets for this performance, with the only condition that "they have been used to rest and dream of a world of equality and justice where they are not afraid to claim the life they want.” The performance will be filmed and shown as part of the Neighbourhood Guilt exhibition.

Lale's Flag will also be projected onto the facade of Athens City Hall using 3D mapping technology on March 8th from 7pm to midnight.