As part of Turning the Tide, Evia, Greece’s second-largest island, became the focus for the first round of Local Urban Labs (LUL). Selected by Artit, the team brought together art and ecology in an effort to celebrate the resilience and community spirit in areas affected by environmental hardship. In recent years, Evia has faced relentless wildfires, burning over 15% of its land, along with severe storms, extreme weather and heavy rainfalls that have left communities, infrastructure, and natural landscapes deeply vulnerable. This fragile state, and the remarkable strength of Evia’s residents, made it an inspiring location for a project exploring sustainability, social awareness, and the transformative power of art.
For this inaugural Local Urban Lab, two Greek artists, Giorgos Gerontides and Christina Maridaki, were chosen by Artit, after a competitive Open Call, and were invited to collaborate with local communities in Evia, creating artworks that embrace and reimagine the area’s challenges and resilience, not allowing it to fade away and be forgotten – like it often does. Through the mediums of documentary, participatory practices, and deep listening, the artists shared unique perspectives on how art can capture, inspire, and offer new understandings in a landscape marked by both beauty and adversity. Each artist has beautifully captured the spirit of Evia, engaging local voices while offering fresh spaces for reflection and collective hope.
More about the Artists
Giorgos Gerontides and Christina Maridaki each bring their own distinctive artistic voice and passion for social engagement to the Turning the Tide project. Giorgos, a Greek Cypriot artist based in Thessaloniki, has a strong background in Fine Arts and Public Art and is known for using his work to explore social issues and collective resilience. Christina, an Athens-based artist, specialises in eco-feminist, socially engaged art, often focusing on gender, community identity, and participatory practices that foster agency and collective healing.
Giorgos Gerontides – Vulnerable Nets
In his documentary Vulnerable Nets, Giorgos collaborated with local teenagers and young adults to spotlight grassroots organisations in North Evia and the essential role they play in supporting both the community and the environment. The film profiles a number of groups that together form a powerful network of resilience, united in their commitment to environmental recovery and community well-being.
Giorgos highlights groups like the Stagones Social Cooperative, which promotes sustainable agriculture through permaculture and natural building while also offering public workshops. Another featured group, the AMAL Social Cooperative Enterprise, organises workshops, performances, and children’s activities that nurture a community-wide sense of ecological responsibility. The Forest Voice movement brings volunteers together through annual conferences and community events focused on environmental protection, while the Forest Firefighters’ Voluntary Association educates on fire prevention and actively assists during emergencies. Finally, the Sideritis Collective is dedicated to conserving natural resources, promoting sustainability, and preserving cultural heritage through a strong emphasis on community education. Through Vulnerable Nets, Giorgos brings Evia’s resilience to life, offering a heartfelt portrayal of community action, hope, and solidarity.
Christina Maridaki – Feminsularity
Christina Maridaki took a more personal, eco-feminist approach with her project Feminsularity, a warm and insightful exploration of gender, identity, and nature in the hot springs town of Edipsos. Over 11 days, Christina immersed herself in the community, observing how women interact with the healing thermal springs and how their identity is shaped through their connection to nature and each other. Her work, comprising both a documentary and an accompanying zine, offers a tender reflection on women’s resilience and the power of communal spaces.
In Feminsularity, Christina reveals how the women of Edipsos use these shared spaces as places for healing, reflection, and strength, developing a sense of belonging rooted in nature. Her work touches on themes of climate awareness and cultural heritage, as well as on how these women embody roles of care and connection in a landscape uniquely suited to both renewal and social bonding. Her zine extends these themes, blending personal stories with mythological and historical insights, such as the legend of Hercules and the springs, while connecting them to eco-feminist ideas. Christina’s work is an uplifting portrayal of the resilience and community spirit of the women in Edipsos, whose lives are as restorative as the waters they gather by.
Artistic Insights and Collective Development
The Local Urban Labs began in May 2024, with a digital workshop hosted by Dr Spyros Bofylatos, a tutor at the Royal College of Art and executive director of the European Academy of Design. This initial session gave Giorgos, Christina, and the Artit team an opportunity to explore themes of sustainability, share ideas, and deepen their understanding of the unique landscape and community of an island like Evia. In June, the team also met with the Mayor of Istiaia-Edipsos, Mr Ioannis Kontzias, who offered insights on local recovery efforts and Evia’s response to recent environmental challenges. This collaborative journey helped the artists build meaningful connections with Evia’s communities and gather stories and inspiration for their work.
In August, both artists joined a final digital roundtable to reflect on their experiences, discussing the creative process, the challenges they faced, and the lasting impact of their interactions with the community. This closing session allowed for a heartfelt exchange of insights and underscored the deep connection each artist felt with the people and landscape of Evia.
Looking Ahead – A Lasting Impact
As Turning the Tide continues, this first round of Local Urban Labs on Evia stands as a hopeful beginning. Giorgos and Christina’s works honour the island’s rich heritage and resilient spirit, creating art that not only captures the heart of Evia’s communities but also sparks new conversations in our shared environment. Through their art, they leave a lasting impact, bridging people, places, and the possibility of change.
Up next, Artit has selected artists Angela Liosi and Maria Gouveli to continue this mission in Evia’s LUL Round 2. At the start of September 2024, Artit hosted a ‘Passing the baton’ digital meeting, bringing together the artists from both rounds of Evia’s Local Urban Labs. Everyone introduced themselves and shared a glimpse of their background and creative journeys. The newly selected artists presented their research and initial concepts, while the artists from Round 1 shared their experiences, answering questions and offering reflections. This collaborative introduction fosters continuity in the project, ensuring that the next phase of Local Urban Labs continues the dialogue and creativity sparked by Giorgos and Christina’s work.
To get the full picture, make sure to explore Giorgos’ and Christina’s works in detail. Stay tuned for more!
