Interdisciplinary art • site-specific projects • art–science collaboration • cultural initiatives
KALLIERGON syn seeks to leave a lasting imprint on culture by opening paths of thought, creation and collaboration, paths that remain open and continue to be walked
Because creation begins with syn, together
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE
ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND THE PREVENTION OF FEMICIDES
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This initiative has been organised and implemented by KALLIERGON syn since 2023, as a stance of zero tolerance and active awareness towards a long-standing social issue. At its core, the initiative cultivates awareness, responsibility and a conscious sense of coexistence.
The initiative was symbolically launched on November 25, a date designated by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, underlining its international scope and value-based orientation.
Within this framework, women from different parts of the world — including publicly recognised figures — participate voluntarily in photographic portraits, wearing jewellery made of koufeta (sugar-coated almonds), a material carrying strong symbolism of memory, fragility and resilience. These portraits are accompanied by personal texts written by the participants, presented in both Greek and English, with the aim of ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. In the future, additional formats are envisaged, such as sign language video interpretations.
This initiative draws its inspiration from the historical event of Kyra Frosyni and the women who were drowned in Lake Pamvotis in the early 19th century. This narrative, as it has been preserved and transformed through collective memory and legend, served as the starting point for Christina Tzialla’s literary work “OUI – Tropaea - ApoTropaea.” From this creative point of departure emerged the idea for the present campaign, which highlights the enduring nature of gender-based violence by connecting historical experience with contemporary public discourse.
The digital presentation of the initiative is gradually enriched and updated at regular intervals. It may be made available free of charge for non-profit use, upon consultation with interested organisations, with a shared aim of awareness, education and dissemination of the message. This section functions as a foundation for further development and networking of the initiative, primarily through in-person encounters, collaborations and interaction.
This initiative is situated within the broader international field of awareness on gender-based violence, while maintaining a distinct cultural and artistic character, where memory, personal testimony and artistic expression coexist.
At the core of this initiative lies memory, as a living act of awareness. The jewellery made of silver confetti, worn by the participants, draws its symbolism from a narrative in which violence and loss are transformed, insisting on remembrance.
The story behind the silver confetti
An excerpt from the forthcoming work of fiction by Christina Tzialla, “OUI – Tropaea ApoTropaea” (Aparsis Editions), drawing on collective memory and mythic narrative, illuminating the transformation of violence into symbol.
“ApoTropaea” is a Greek wordplay carrying a dual meaning: it refers both to “trophies derived from trophies” and to the notion of the “atrocious” or “abhorrent”, revealing the layered nature of the narrative.
[" In the end, as dawn began to break, and while the strands of their hair were still damp at the roots, the executioners seized them eagerly, as if they had become feathers. Perhaps their conscience felt lighter at the thought of how worthwhile their effort would prove, when they would return to claim their trophies…
Only Kyra-Frosyni they could not tear away from her nurse, Chrysi… for even if you were to place a blade between them, you might easily be deceived into thinking they shared a single heart…
And the metal turned into sweetness… and the lake itself was sweetened…
One need only fall silent — and listen.”]
For the story behind the jewellery made of silver confetti, you may listen to the recorded audio below, presented at the 1st Pamvotis Festival, in anticipation of the forthcoming fiction book by Christina Tzialla, published by Aparsis Editions, titled OUYI, Tropaea from Tropaea.
This recording forms part of one of the book’s chapters, as do all the texts accompanying the following videos.
NOTE: The participants selected to date are women with whom the KALLIERGON syn team has established meaningful contact over time, recognizing their stance in life and, in many cases, their activist engagement with issues of gender-based violence. The selection process is carried out by the team and evolves gradually, taking into account the overall availability of time and resources dedicated to the initiative.
The KALLIERGON syn team sincerely thanks all the women who pose voluntarily, enhancing our cause!
We also warmly thank Marielle Thomas, Managing Director of UHU for sponsoring the adhesive used in the creation of the “jewellery”.