“Untitled (Don Quixote)”: Artist Panos Sklavenitis Reimagines Cervantes’ Hero in Nafplio

The work Untitled (Don Quixote) by artist Panos Sklavenitis is presented at Poeme Art Space in Nafplio, as part of the exhibition programme PAZARI.

In 2022, one hundred years since the population exchange were commemorated, prompting a reflection aimed at highlighting the cultural and other elements that have shaped artistic creation in Greece and internationally. Within this context, artist Dimitris Papachristos invites creators whose work engages in dialogue with history, with the aim of bringing forward alternative narratives and perspectives.

In the ongoing work Untitled (Don Quixote), Sklavenitis presents a reinterpretation of Cervantes’ iconic hero, Don Quixote. The different viewpoints of the characters are heard, including that of Pantha’s donkey, who imagines an alter ego that gains particular significance within Sklavenitis’ work. Its importance lies in the fact that it proposes an alternative that transcends conventional models, which are typically situated within a patriarchal framework.

This post-human transcendence of the donkey’s experience moves us beyond the stereotypical framework through which the historical event has been articulated, placing us instead within a broader system of values.

About Poeme Art Space
The studio was initially housed in a space belonging to a refugee family on Agapitou Street, in the Nafplio settlement. Its original location became a key inspiration for the conception of the exhibition programme. In July 2024, following the decision to demolish the building for the construction of a multi-storey property, Poeme relocated to 15 Bouboulinas Street, on the ground floor of a post-war apartment building. The new space includes an interior architecture studio, drawing, painting and sculpture workshops, as well as an exhibition area for contemporary art.

On Sunday, April 5 at 19:30, the work will be publicly screened on the blind wall of the Artemis Hotel (Thanasaina stop) in Nafplio, in the presence of the artist.

Pazari Project is an exhibition programme focusing on contemporary artistic production.