Vasiliki Riala

Artist in residency at Xarkis Festival Kornos 2023

The following works were created during my residency at Xarkis Festival in Kornos October 2023

I’m sorry for not persisting, but I ate all my food

video performance, Kornos, 2023
Bread shaped like ancient idol of bird like figurine with infant

Intertwining themes of motherhood, care, identity, history, and tradition, this act portrays crafts
lost in time, serving as a tangible reminder of the past. Consuming this ancient idol made of
bread, all the while being aware that it will soon disappear, imparts a sense of melancholic
helplessness to the younger generation who are unable to revive these fading traditions.

Aggeio-plastiki

installation, Kornos 2023
engraved plexiglass

In a world dominated by plastic, the ancient art of pottery is fading. This installation pays
homage to tradition, with traditional patterns used on metal plaques, tamata, and an iconic
piece of Kornos pottery. The transparency of the material invites the viewer to draw closer,
offering a deeper connection to a craft that is slowly fading away.

Ephemeral tamata

installation, Kornos 2023
candles, copies of newspapers articles from the archive of Kornos Community Council related to
red clay and pottery in Kornos
Phileleftheros Thursday 27th of September 2007
Phileleftheros Friday 25th of September 2009
Mesogeios 30th of October 2007
Politis Tuesday 6th of October 2015
Phileleftheros 11th of October 2015

“Ephemeral” derives from the Greek word “ephēmeros” (εφήμερος /eˈfi.me.ɾos/), which means
“lasting for a very short period of time.” In Greek, the word for “newspaper” is “εφημερίδα,”
formed from “εφημερίς” and “ίδα,” signifying the news of the day. In the past, many tamata
were wrapped in newspapers, but before being placed in sacred locations, the newspapers were
removed and discarded. This installation symbolizes the passage of time and the significance of
news and its transience.