The Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, in cooperation with the Danish Embassy in Greece, presents the exhibition ‘Passages of Substance’ by Kalliopi Lemos until September 8th. The cooperation is part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Danish philosopher and religious thinker Soren Kierkegaard.

Kalliopi Lemos, with her impressive work, has entered a dialogue with the thought of the father of Christian existentialism, Soren Kierkegaard. In contrast with the perceptions of the Byzantine theologians and intellectuals, Soren Kierkegaard argued that faith is a unique, subjective passion, which is not mediated by the ecclesiastical rituals. Only through this faith can one discover his true self.

Passages of Substance by Kalliopi Lemou — Photo courtesy of Byzantine And Christian MuseumThis quest for inner truth is depicted in the installation ‘Passages of Substance’ by Kalliopi Lemos, a 3.47-meter-long wooden boat of sweet chestnut carrying twelve semi-abstract other worldly salt heads, which symbolize the crossing and the lonely search for self awareness. The salt heads, with their distorted expressions of pain and agony, are positioned throughout the length of the boat, encapsulating the meaning of life and what remains from this journey, reflecting also the difficulty of the voyage, the achievement of reaching the destination and the experiences of life which shape each person’s individual experience.