Athens International Airport hosts an exhibition of drawings by Gisis Papageorgiou with works from the collection of the Hellenic American Union
The illustrations on exhibit feature a broad range of traditional costumes from different areas in the mainland and islands of Greece. With their diversity of materials—silk, wool, linen, and cotton—and colorful ornamentation, the intricate gold stitching and embroidery, the costumes presented in these drawings attest to the rich cultural heritage of Greece. They bear the imprint of its region and its maker but also the legacy of ancient Greece, elements of Byzantine culture, and influences from central Europe.
Hellenic Traditional Costumes, as drawn and painted by Gisis Papageorgiou, with utmost respect for the material and after many years of research, are reproduced with great attention to detail and unprecedented realism. The exhibition at Athens International Airport, which is curated by art historian Lousia Karapidaki, in collaboration with the Hellenic American Union, gives travelers a glimpse of Greece’s sartorial tradition, one that continues to be a source of inspiration today.