Chios Art + Research Retreat: 
Interdisciplinary residency in Chios island
8 – 24 October 2021

On Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th, the guests will present their on-going research to the public
Chios island, Greece

In partnership with DEO projects, Caravan project presents Chios Art + Research Retreat - the first nomadic interdisciplinary residency on Chios island. On an annual basis, six young artists, scientists and researchers are invited to spend 16 days in Chios under the same premises, in a different geography of the island. 

Starting in October 2021, the first Chios Art + Research Retreat will focus on the area of Kampos in Chios, with the support of Perleas Mansion. The 16-day programme will include presentations about Kampos by selected lecturers, guided tours, additional research by the organizers, open discussions and two days of open studios where the ongoing research projects are presented to the local audience.

While staying in one of the estates of Kampos, the invited artists and researchers will be able to explore and experience this unique settlement from within. Its rich history, the unique architecture, the long-time cultivation of citrus are the elements that gave Kampos a past characterized by great glamor but also introversion. At present, the abandonment of orchards and mansions, tourism, and urban expansion undermine its unique character and open up fields of research. The guests are invited to respond critically, research, and transform the above materials, bringing new perspectives.

Kampos is a semi-rural area within the city limits of Chios. It is an example of the coexistence of Byzantine, Genoese, Ottoman and local architectural traditions and influences dates back to the 14th century. It is located on a fertile plain on the east coast of the island, and originally consisted of more than 300 estates that included orchards (typical agro-ecosystems), mansions and churches. The existing urban fabric includes historic buildings from the 14th to the 18th century, as well as neoclassical buildings of the early 20th century. The area is a particularly vivid historical example of the coexistence of housing and production. Built entirely with local stone, Kampos is a whole of exceptional beauty which was included among the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe in 2016.

Invited artists and researchers 2021 | Petros Lolis, Ilectra Maipa, Alexandra Masmanidi, Alexis Mastichiadis, Valia Papastamou, Fred Schmidt

Chios Art + Research Retreat is organised and curated by Dimitris Theodoropoulos, Stratis Vogiatzis and Eleni Vourtsi, while DEO projects provide its communication platforms to reach diverse audiences.