KOMONI, 2026
Fire-resistant clay, beeswax infused with mastic, iron, magnets, paper, glass, found objects
Dimensions variable
New commissioned work by DEO
Objects were loaned from the Thomas Tsolakis Folklore Collection

KOMONI intertwines the story of Thomas Tsolakis, Volissos’s last living saddler and folklore collector, with the survey of Chios’s vernacular architecture by architect Dimitris Pikionis alongside archival traces of a family that once inhabited a now abandoned house up the hill. Together, these narratives construct a layered portrait of a community shaped by labour, and resilience. They reflect the transition from rural to urban societies, where communities often struggle to adapt, resulting in either depopulation or increasing dependence on tourism. KOMONI refers to the communal practice of sowing and cultivating land together. Vlassopoulou reflects on the tensions, negotiations and acts of care that sustain communities. The installation features fire-resistant clay and beeswax infused with mastic, which echo the landscape’s recent traumas and evoke practices of healing and preservation. In dialogue with a ceramic bee watering vessel from Tsolakis’s collection, Vlassopoulou turns to the cupped hand as another vessel that offers water, nourishes other beings and embodies tenderness. The hand becomes a symbol of togetherness, while the smile of a young girl suggests the possibility of a return; an alternative future to be imagined.