Renowned Greek visual artist Eleni Mylonas, who lives and works in New York, presents the chapter of her work entitled The cursed serpent. 
She draws her inspiration from helmets worn by protestors during the Arab Spring: DIY constructions intended to protect their wearers from stones tossed in running clashes on roads and squares. Paintings, video, an installation and photographs by the artist with hats made of household objects and garbage, constitute her commentary on the daring and imagination of the protesters. 
The title of the exhibition is drawn from a work by composer Manos Hadjidakis, which refers to the battle of Megalexandros (a folk hero whose character and name hold allusions to Alexander the Great) with the terrible and awe-inspiring serpent that terrorised the country; and the intervention of Karaghiozis (the archetypal and familiar hero of traditional shadow puppetry in Greece). The works in the exhibition, as well as the story of the cursed serpent, highlight the fact that whatever crisis might threaten, whether external or personal, it may be vanquished with daring and imagination. 

The exhibition and the catalogue are dedicated to the artist Chryssa.

Exhibition Curation: Christina Petrinou