Eleusis 2023 - Mystery_17: Melina

The European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is an annual initiative that aims to highlight the diverse cultural wealth of European cities, and in this way help its citizens better identify with each other. This year, Elefsina—along with Veszprém (Hungary) and Timisoara (Romania)—holds the title and presents a rich cultural agenda over the course of a year.

The programme’s name, The Mysteries of Transition, was inspired by the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were secret religious practices held in Elefsina during antiquity to honour the goddess Demetra. Makes sense that each event on the programme was therefore dubbed a Mystery. The festival’s cultural agenda is built around three thematic axes: Environment, Labour, and People and Society, and includes 130 artworks, 465 events (Mysteries) in 30 different city sites, and 17 different types of art by 192 Greek and 137 international artists from 30 countries. 

An exhibition on the life and work of Melina Mercouri who co-founded the European Capital of Culture initiative in 1985, was bound to be included in the festival’s programme. The Oscar-nominated and Cannes Film Festival-awarded (Best Actress for 1960’s Never on Sunday), was a fierce political figure, an activist and Greece’s longest-serving Minister of Culture. Amongst her many ambitions was the return of the Parthenon Sculptures and she is well-known for her efforts in trying to achieve that goal.

Mystery_17 presents Mercouri's multifaceted nature from her acting career and political presence to her personal life. On exhibit are posters from her films, costumes she wore, personal belongings, correspondence with prominent public figures, and private photographs of her alongside family and friends.