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A special group art exhibition with the title “Athenian Cats” is inaugurated at the Andie Art Gallery on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (19:00), aiming to support and strengthen the work of “Dorotea’s Cats Rescue”, a volunteer effort for the rescue, care, sterilization, and adoption of stray cats, created by Dorotea Mercuri.

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The exhibition, curated by art historian Annita Patsouraki, presents works of painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and decorative constructions, inspired by the world of animals and their harmonious relationship and coexistence with humans.

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As Annita Patsouraki notes in her text about the exhibition: “Artistic” approaches of realistic depiction, abstract writing, and symbolism highlight the utmost importance of protection, care, and our responsibility towards animals.

 

The 38 participating artists, all animal lovers and caretakers of stray animals, visually convey the feelings of fulfillment and inexhaustible, selfless love of the coexistence between humans and pets, urging us to act for their protection and care.

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Under the slogan “We love animals – We love life” the exhibition presents visual artworks focused on the wonderful and mysterious world of the cat, as well as inspired by almost the entire animal kingdom, catering to everyone’s preferences while simultaneously showing love and respect for all living beings in nature.

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The aim of the exhibition is to awaken, move, and encourage the public towards animal welfare by combining art and artistic creation, with meaningful and effective actions.

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The alienation of humans from nature as well as modern living in the urban fabric of a city both create needs for support, often not understood by the majority and unfortunately difficult for the defenseless pets, fully dependent on us.

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Wandering in adverse weather conditions of a concrete city, completely hostile to their nature, they desperately search for water, minimal food for their survival, and a nest to quietly hide somewhere.

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What are they chasing, and where? The concrete, the cars are everywhere. Their life is particularly difficult. The obvious is not always clear to everyone!

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Social awareness and government assistance are clearly lacking. Volunteering, personal responsibility, and collective effort are hoped to bring immediate substantial changes to their well-being.

 

Their well-being reflects our own humanity, our own spiritual reserve and greatness. Caring for and protecting them breeds within us kindness of soul, tenderness, and boundless generosity, and serves as an example that love is proven through actions.

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The course of human evolution unfortunately does not testify to love and protection for nature and the environment. Animals, wherever they are from the jungle to our backyard, are often neglected, abused, and abandoned.

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Art, through colors, movement, and gaze, conveys the familiar and beloved image of animals, inviting us to feelings of empathy. The beauty of the presence of animals - pets, companions, domesticated - is an invitation and initiative for action towards care, protection, and adoption.

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Well-being is not a privilege; it is a right and a responsibility for all of us.

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Dorotea Mercuri is a Greek Italian actress and author of Italian cooking. She has been involved with stray animals since her adolescence, as her family always had pets. Having returned to Greece from abroad where she lived, her animal welfare activities continued with unwavering enthusiasm.

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The dramatic observation of the maximum abandonment of animals following the lockdown due to the pandemic led her to create “Dorotea’s Cats Rescue” with organized, systematic, and continuously daily action throughout Athens.

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With personal involvement, he/she searches for, cares for, treats, sterilizes, and promotes the adoption of stray cats. 

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Since 2020 and intensively from 2022, with a large team of experienced volunteers and veterinarians, she has overseen and coordinated the sterilization of more than 120 cats, the rescue and care of 150 cats, some of which were in a semi-dead condition, and has managed and coordinated the adoption of more than 35 cats who have found responsible guardians.
 

“In our country, where state care fails to meet the welfare needs of stray animals, volunteerism must become a consciousness and responsibility for all of us.”​​​​​

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Come and meet the "Athenian Cats" and their friends.

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