Portelata & Misoforia: Unfolding the Women’s Undergarments of the Parian Costume

On February 27, 2026, the group exhibition “Portelata & Misoforia: Unfolding the Women’s Undergarments of the Parian Costume” opens, organized by the Municipality of Paros and curated by Iris Kritikou, with the participation of fifty distinguished Greek visual artists. The exhibition is supported by the Organization for Culture, Sports and Youth of the City of Athens.

Inspired by the layered history of Paros’ traditional women’s costume – first documented in the 16th century and shaped by centuries of Mediterranean exchange – the exhibition focuses on its intricate inner garments: the portelato, misofori, boustos, shirt, and kamizora. These garments, rich in embroidery, symbolism, and material nuance, reveal a hidden world of craftsmanship, memory, and feminine experience.

Drawing from historical sources such as the 1563 chronicle of Nicolas de Nicolay and later travel accounts, as well as the research of Ypapanti Roussou, the exhibition traces the evolution of the Parian costume and its connections to Western European influences from as early as the 13th century.

First presented in Paroikia in August 2025 and now shown in Athens, the exhibition unfolds as a luminous white microcosm – a space of dialogue between past and present. Alongside a small original nucleus of historic garments from private island collections, participating artists respond through painting, sculpture, weaving, embroidery, installation, photography, and other media.

Through contemporary interpretations of these once-intimate garments, the exhibition explores themes of memory, labor, identity, and the shifting condition of women today. At its heart lies a quiet but powerful question: how do the hidden layers of dress carry stories we are still learning to unfold?

Participating artists:
Kyra Aligizaki, Panagiota Apostolopoulou, Anny Archimandritou, Theodora Asprogenidou, Neva Bergemann, Marina Vlachaki, Anna Vlachou, Maro Voulgari, Maria Geroula, Stratigoula Giannikopoulou, Vassilis Gokas, Kristi Grigoriou, Maria Diakodimitriou, Maria Drakaki, Eirini Zaimi, Annita Kalimeri, Katerina Kalitsounaki, Panos Kardasis, Marigo Kassi, Vassilis Kilitslis, Spyros Koikas, Maro Kornilaki, Nikos Leontopoulos, Mireille Lienard, Anastasios Madamopoulos, Minas Mavrikakis, Yakinthi Metzikof, Manos Batzolis, Vasiliki Bispikou, Lambrini Boviatsou, Ismini Bonatsou, Rouli Boua, Mary Dagianta, Giorgos Papageorgiou, Dionysia Papadopoulou, Vaia Papazikou, Marietta Papacheimona, Vivi Perysinaki, Michalis Sakalis, Katerina Sarafi, Ifigeneia Sdoukou, Eleni Siousti, Marina Stellatou, Nikos Triantafyllou, Klairi Tsalouchidi-Chatzimina, Eirini Tsiraki, Amalia Ferentinou, Agapi Fesatidou-Psarraki, Eleni Fokianou, Maria Chaniou.