The 32nd PLOES exhibition explores “The Enigma of the Image” on Andros

This summer, the Petros and Marika Kydonieos Foundation in Chora, Andros, presents the 32nd edition of PLOES, one of Greece’s longest-running and most respected private contemporary art institutions. Opening on 25 July 2026, this year’s exhibition, titled The Enigma of the Image / Man Walks Through Images, brings together the work of 24 modern and contemporary artists in a multidisciplinary exhibition featuring painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mosaics and installations.

Curated by Athina Schina, art historian and cultural scholar, the exhibition examines one of the defining questions of our time: our relationship with images. Inspired by the biblical verse “Man walks through images” (Psalm 73), the exhibition reflects on how images shape identity, memory and perception in an era dominated by social media and digital self-representation. Rather than offering definitive answers, the participating artists invite viewers into a dialogue where visual art becomes a space for contemplation and critical reflection.

The curatorial concept addresses the profound impact of contemporary image culture. Social media, the exhibition argues, has transformed images into vehicles of self-promotion, narcissism, illusion and dependency, often replacing genuine human interaction with carefully constructed digital identities. Against this backdrop, The Enigma of the Image asks timeless questions: Do we create images, or do images create us? How much of our lives is shaped by the images we consume, remember and project?

As in every edition of PLOES, the exhibition combines artworks with carefully selected texts by the curator and a specially designed sound environment, encouraging visitors to engage with the works beyond their visual appearance. Rather than explaining the artworks, these interpretative elements invite each visitor to develop a personal reading and uncover the philosophical and emotional dimensions embedded within them.

Speaking ahead of the opening, Foundation President Vivi I. Palaiokrassa highlighted the institution’s commitment to cultural decentralisation and to bringing high-quality contemporary art to Andros. After more than three decades, PLOES continues to attract an increasingly diverse audience, from art professionals to first-time visitors and young art lovers, reaffirming its role as one of the island’s most significant cultural events.

The participating artists are: Achilleas Aivazoglou, Apostolos Vettas, Miltos Golemas, Vasilis Gkoumas, Giuliano Kagklis, Nikos Kanoglou, Nikolas Klironomos, Katerina Kontogiorgi, Maria Ktistopoulou, Stavroula Mitsakou, Kleio Papaioannou, Aimilia Papafilippou, Lila Papoula, Argyris Rallias, Konstantinos Rammos, Aliki Rigou, Nikos Samaras, Dimitra Siaterli, Giorgos Stamatakis, Maria Schina, Marios Fournaris, Nasos Chalkidis, Giorgos Charvalias and Giannis Christakos.