ART-REVIEW:Code Name Dowry Contract-A Gesture For Marriage Bondage

The Performance by Danai Papoutsi and Margarita Petrova entitled “CODE NAME: DOWRY CONTRACT–A gesture for marriage bondage”, presented at the Lazaros Koundouriotis Historical Mansion in Hydra on 23/7/19, in the context of Animart 2019 organized by Hydra Arts Lab of Common Benefit Enterprise of Hydra Municipality (ΚΕΔΥ) was excellent at every level. As much for the wedding-veil worn by the actor Danai Papoutsi, created by the artists collective Penelope’s Web (Clioevi/ Kraja Beskida/ Petrova Margsrita/ Chanioti Dimitra, Curator: Petrova Margarita) as much as the touching and emotional video installation based on the exploration of the social, economic and historical background of the island at the beginning of the last Century. Although some viewers said that the video lasted longer than it should and may they not be wrong, through this video with the narratives of two  old ladies of the island, the viewer could clearly understand the structure of Greek society  and can decode today’s sociopolitical facts  in Greece, more easily than ever!!! The spaces of Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion, that the last years is used for art exhibitions, with the yellow earthr color walls  their eye-filling dignity and splendor and the lighting played also their own role and contributed to the creation of a very specific atmosphere, that refers to the years unfolded before the eyes of the spectators.-Efi Michalarou, Photo: Alex Botonakis