The Journey

Since its inception, Anamnesis has produced both outdoor works in archaeological sites and indoor works in museums.

“From Darkness To Light”, Anamnesis’s first performance in 2018, was presented in a sacrosanct site of profound energy: the Temple of Apollo Epicurius in the Peloponnese at an altitude of 1130 meters. Inspired by the ceremonial "incubations" of the ancient Greeks, the overnight site-specific performance gathered 800 guests and overnight spectators who explored the connection with the cardinal directions, the connection with the elements (fire, air, water, earth), and the embodiment of darkness and light, as the unifying element of all.

Anamnesis / Delos, in 2019, the first part of the performance, was an invitation to the audience to witness, see, and feel the hidden values that are deeply rooted in the land of Delos while the second part was a call to a harmonious dance with history and mythology,  awakening its imagination and sensitivity aiming to achieve unity with its cultural heritage, nature and itself. The performance was presented at the archeological site of Delos island, a site of unspeakable beauty, enlisted in Unesco's World Cultural Heritage List.  

Commissioned by the Municipality of Alexandroupolis,  Anamnesis/ Zone performance was showcased in 2020 at the ancient city of Zone, an archaic colony of Samothrace dating back to the late 7th century BC. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions, the performance on August 3rd, 2020, drew an impressive audience of 600 people, with an additional 500 attendees at the open general rehearsal. This overwhelming response underscores the power of Anamnesis's vision: reconnecting with ancient wisdom in a modern context through contemporary performance art.

"All Is One," an Anamnesis performance in 2021, was inspired by the Minoans' deep reverence for Mother Nature and their rich symbolism. Held at the Minoan Palace of Zakros, which was originally built around 1900 BC, rebuilt around 1600 BC, and destroyed around 1450 BC, the performance offered a mystical experience. It connected participants with the perpetual motion of the natural world and the underlying harmony that governs it.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the "As Above So Below" 2022 performance, explores themes of destruction and rebirth in the Greek spirit.  The performance centers on fire's duality: a sacred element in the Cabeirian Mysteries and a symbol of destruction, abuse, and war. The show questions how this potent symbol, linked to God Hephaestus, could help forge a better world. Set under a Full Moon at Lemnos's mystical Kaveirio site, the performance merges the physical and spiritual, promoting deep connections between human souls and celestial elements.

“The Oracles of Water” enchanted the Delphi Archaeological Site with a captivating performance that links climate change and the global water crisis with the mythological backdrop and worship of Apollo at Delphi. This two-part show began at sunrise at the Temple of Athena Pronaia and ended at sunset at the Temple of Apollo, guiding the audience along the Sacred Way from the Roman Agora under a magical full moon. The performance powerfully illustrates art's ability to leverage ancient wisdom and cultural heritage to confront contemporary issues such as climate change and the global water crisis.

"Ancient Souls In Human Bodies," the inaugural Anamnesis performance crafted for a museum setting, melds archaic and contemporary rituals through dance, music, and singing. Designed for the Museo Castromediano Lecce in 2023 and created in nine days, this performance offers a deep dive into the harmony and spirituality of Ancient Greece and Griko culture enthusiasts. It uniquely blends past and present in a fluid circularity, erasing time boundaries for contemporary art lovers and innovatively utilising public museum spaces to engage audiences emotionally and mentally in a multidimensional, site-specific ritual."

Anamnesis is a call for the visionaries, the spiritual seekers, the Lovers of the brilliant beauty of ancient soil, and stone.

Apostolia Papadamaki