Temple of Azurite
2024
The Temple of Azurite, an immersive installation, activated all the senses – sight, taste, sound, touch, and smell. The art project included light installation, video projection, set pieces, and vocal performance. The three-act performance culminated in the offering of a wine-based elixir created from botanicals foraged from ancient sites to all gallery guests. This neo-kykeon, a potable allusion to the mysterious and sacred drink of the Eleusinian Mysteries, was both part of a ceremonial ritual and of the ‘embodiment’ concept of the performance. It was served in distinct stoneware cups Pexa created in Athens inspired by the Cycladic and Neolithic pottery collections of the National Archeological Museum of Athens. The cups were distributed to gallery guests during the performance.
Video
Video for projection was taken through a prism at Ancient Corinth and the Acropolis.
– sight activation.
Performance
Performance by Willa van Nostrand included original songs and an offering of a neo-kykeon created with various botanicals foraged from ancient sites—Pine from Delphi, bergamot from the well of Persephone in Eleusis, and lavender from Ancient Corinth.
– sound activation.
"I Love Sauce Cups"
Stoneware cups created by Pexa in Athens, inspired by Cycladic and Neolithic sauce pitchers and the tactile elements of children's ceramic toys from the pottery collections of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The serving vessel's name, "I Love Sauce Cups", is a word play on the Neolithic sauce bowl and slang usage of "sauce" when referring to a beverage with alcohol.
– touch activation.
Form Inspiration
Vessel inspiration taken from the form of the sauce bowls, and the tactile elements of children's toy pots in the Cycladic and Neolithic collections of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Neo-Kykeon
Libation infused with botanicals from Ancient Greek sites.
– taste & smell activation
Event
