The exhibition Ioanna Papantoniou “Doulamas″ the magnificent. An exceptional coat is being mounted by the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation “V. Papantoniou″ at the Benaki Museum/138 Piraeus Str from March 7 to May 26 2019.

The exhibition aims to show Ioanna Papantoniou’s long association with the doulamas, a rare, exceptional garment worn in the Western Balkans during the Ottoman Empire: both a scholarly association, which highlights the garment’s different local versions, but also a creative one, since the latter was a constant source of inspiration during Papantoniou’s long career in the theatre. Examples will be displayed of her creative collaborations with the National Theatre, the State Theatre of Northern Greece, the Theatre of Thessaly and the National Opera of Greece.

Additionally, Ioanna Papantoniou takes this creative process a step further by involving today’s Greek fashion scene. A first attempt had already been made when, participating in a meeting of the ICOM Costume Committee 2017 in London, she proposed an experimental exhibition to selected Greek fashion designers, which took place at “4 Kanari Str″ the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation‘s cultural space in Kolonaki. The exhibition was based on the doulamas and the pirpiri, following the example of Dries van Noten’s exhibition Inspirations at the MoMu in Antwerp in 2015.

The results of this collaboration, enriched with creations of more designers added on the way, will be displayed in the exhibition’s last section. The following designers are participating (in alphabetical order): Angelos Bratis, Dimitris Dassios, Deux Hommes, Tina Karageorgi, Sophia Kokosalaki, Loukia, Maison Faliakos, Mi-Ro, Marcello Nyktas, Parthenis, Aristeides Tzonevrakis – “Aristotechnima”, Daphne Valente, Zeus & Dione και Vassilis Emmanuel Zoulias.

Last on display are white doulamades, especially made for the exhibition by Aristeidis Tzonevrakis so as highlight the dynamics of this garment even when in white.

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual catalogue, edited by Ioanna Papantoniou.

Information:

Benaki Museum, 138 Piraeus Str and Andronikou. Tel.: 210 3453111.

Open: Thursday and Sunday, 10:00 -18.00, Friday and Saturday, 10.00 -22.00.

Closed: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.