A wood carved cabinet from 1713 by Kozani mansion, loan from the Folklore Museum of Kozania chair that resembles the throne of the 18th-19th century from the Folklore Museum of Kastoria Nerantzi Aivazi and a sample of Skyrian lounge – small due to the small size of the houses inside the Castle – are some of the works in the exhibition from the past to the future “which was inaugurated tonight at the Yeni Mosque (Old Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki).

The exhibition includes photographic material and representative samples of urban woodcarving of post-Byzantine and modern Greek culture, coming from Western Macedonia, Thrace, Kalambaka and Skyros and aims to highlight aspects of woodcarving art in the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine. the dynamics of this tradition in modern times.

“We are making a start to collect examples from many areas of Greece so that people can see and appreciate the works of traditional wood carving, an art a little unrecognized”, noted Natalia Poulou, Professor of Byzantine Archeology at the Department of History and Archeology of AP .Θ, president of the Center for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, adding that the wood carvings in Byzantine Art were many and important.

The original wood-carved works, “several of them with common decorative themes such as anthropomorphic, phytomorphic, religious and many with the double-headed eagle”, as noted by the curator of the exhibition Hara Sarigiannidou, come from the collections of the Musicophilological Collective Mansion Emmanuel Brothers), the Kozani Folklore Museum, the Traditional House of Christos Tsiotsios and Tatiana Derou in Siatista, the Democritus University of Thrace, as well as the Faltaits Museum in Skyros.

The exhibition also includes contemporary works by students of EPA.S Kalampaka “Wood Carving and Decorative Furniture” -the only woodcarving school in Greece- that bridge the past with the future.

The supervisory material comes from the Ephorates of Antiquities of Grevena, Drama, Evia, Zakynthos, Imathia, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Kastoria, Kefallinia, Kilkis, Kozani, Corinth, Laconia, Lesvos, Magnesia, Peresia, Peresia, Magnesia, Peresia Halkidiki and Mount Athos, Chania and the Faltaits Museum in Skyros.

The short documentary shown in the exhibition is a production of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos.

The exhibition follows the project “Traditional Touch to the Preservation of Wooden Heritage: Master Hands-Young Brains Cooperation Project”, which aimed to promote and protect the art of wood carving and the transfer of know-how from old craftsmen to new students.

The European Center for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments participated in the project “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU-II (CCH-II)” (EUROPEAID), which aims to promote and strengthening joint cultural heritage activities, set up jointly between Turkish and European organizations and institutions.

The main objectives of the project are the preservation and promotion of traditional wood carving works in Greece and Turkey, the creation of dialogue and the transfer of tradition and know-how from old teachers to new students.

The main body of the project is the NGO. YAPIMED (Graduates and Members Society of Istanbul Zincirlikuyu Technical and Constructional Vocational High School), with partners EKBMM and the University of Istanbul.

The exhibition will last until August 9, 2022. Days and hours of operation: Tuesday and Thursday, 10.00 -14.00

Free educational activities are offered for children aged 8-12, as well as organized guided tours for the public, by phone and reservation (2310 889 830).

The entrance is free.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ