Antigoni Pagona – Andie Art Gallery
cordially invites you to the festive exhibition for the “Chinese New Year”,

featuring a visual dialogue in painting by the artists:

Ioanna Lin – Demosthenes Davvetas

 

Opening: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Artists’ performance accompanied by music: 8:00 p.m.

 

Honorary Participation:
Nadia Bele – Christos Georgoudakis

​

Curated by:
Annita Patsouraki – Art Historian

​

​

“Every nation in the world possesses a unique history and cultural memory. Knowledge of history, along with the spiritual treasure of art and culture, encompasses all the beautiful ideals of the world that shape its continuity into the future.

​

The Chinese New Year, also known as the ‘Spring Festival,’ is the most important traditional national celebration in China. It is a movable feast, as it follows the Chinese lunar calendar, taking place on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice. It usually falls between January and February, and each year is named after an animal within a sixty-year cycle.

​

The celebration is connected with ancient legends and myths and originally marked the beginning of the new spring season, the cultivation of the land, and the productive harvest. Over the centuries, it evolved and was enriched with philosophical and religious influences from Confucian teachings and Buddhism, embracing beliefs associated with attracting good fortune, renewal, harmony, unity, and hope.

​

The festival is officially celebrated for fifteen days and has gained global recognition as a cultural event of outstanding heritage and timeless value. Throughout the country, decorations in the symbolic red color prevail, spectacular fireworks illuminate the skies, and rituals featuring mythical figures dominate the celebrations.

​

Food preparation follows specific traditions and symbolic combinations intended to attract prosperity, longevity, and abundance (steamed buns, fish, vegetable rolls, pork). Family reunification is of paramount importance, accompanied by authentic customs deeply rooted in respect, blending ancient traditions with contemporary lifestyles.

​

During the festive period, the country comes to a near-complete halt in professional activities, with a global impact on exports across all sectors. Today, the celebration is firmly established throughout Asia and has achieved worldwide resonance, with numerous events dedicated to the understanding of Chinese culture.

​

For 2026, the Chinese New Year lasts from Tuesday, February 17, to Saturday, March 7, marking the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of powerful energy, transformation, success, and good fortune.

​

The arts contribute to the defense of the fundamental values of human life. Creators of the spirit, through imagination and aesthetic vision, perpetuate the humanistic ideal. They draw inspiration from the past while giving form to the active present. Humanity and nature move together in creation, guided by the timeless universal questions of existence. Across the philosophical records of all civilizations, we find shared perceptions of human existence. In the pursuit of harmony and balance between soul and body, human happiness and well-being are sought.

​

The Eurasian perspective is shaped by a sincere dialogue of timeless messages. It supports history, traditions, and moral values, safeguarding its cultural wealth.

​

The visual coexistence of painters Ioanna Lin and Demosthenes Davvetas raises ancient yet perpetually relevant questions through contemporary expression. A creative dialogue unfolds, with shared perspectives as well as diverse expressions and artistic media, forming an engaging encounter.

​

Ioanna Lin fully embodies the traditional culture and art of her homeland. She welcomes the “Spring Festival” inspired by nature, birds, and flowers, while her calligraphies convey auspicious wishes for the New Year. An airy dance of refined color harmonies, light forms, and meticulously crafted design reveals the elegance and discipline of her traditional knowledge.

​

Demosthenes Davvetas, combining his multifaceted erudition, emerges as an inventive creator in both painting and poetic expression. The recognition of his work in distant China and his comparative philosophical study of the fundamental principles shared by Socrates and Confucius guide us toward self-awareness and the innate human sense of joy and beauty in life.

 

Honorary Participation

Nadia Bele presents a golden piece of jewelry: a horse’s head, the talisman of the year.
Christos Georgoudakis showcases an impressive carved wooden horse, the symbol of the year.

​

All participating creators share common visions and, through a collective spirit, present works of profound artistic imagination. They embody a distinguished intellectual culture, approaching knowledge—an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage—with sensitivity, emotion, respect, and scholarly research.

​

Annita Patsouraki - Art Historian

​