Antama, Leonidion, Greece
My research trip to Leonidio, Tsakonia, focused on the region’s unique weaving tradition, which has remained distinct due to the area’s historical geographical isolation. The Tsakonian weaving technique, known for its precision, symmetry, and durability, is practiced on a vertical loom, a rarity in Greece. Unlike other weaving traditions, Tsakonian textiles are woven as single-piece carpets, identical on both sides, using a technique that requires exceptional skill—entirely handwoven without the use of a shuttle.
Leonidio is also home to the Tsakonian dialect, the oldest surviving Greek dialect, preserved due to the region’s isolation. Like the language, Tsakonian weaving remained untouched by outside influences, maintaining its original motifs and methods. However, with only a handful of skilled weavers remaining, both the dialect and the weaving tradition face the risk of disappearance.
During a series of collaborative workshops, I worked with local Tsakonian weavers to create a woven textile that faithfully preserved the traditional pattern and technique, while introducing a contemporary element: woven paper threads made from pages of the “Tsakonian Dictionary”. By integrating text into the fabric, the project symbolically wove together the material and intangible cultural heritage of Tsakonia.
The final textile features a traditional Tsakonian motif known as “the little hand”, which, through repetition, forms a rhombus. This geometric pattern, traditionally woven with wool, was reinterpreted through woven words, highlighting the parallels between text (language) and textile (fabric)—both derived from the Latin word “texere”, meaning to weave.
Through this collaboration, the women of Antama (meaning “Together” in Tsakonian) and I explored how craft and language intertwine, forming a living archive of Tsakonian identity. The woven piece reflects a collective process of knowledge exchange and cultural preservation, emphasizing how personal histories and traditional techniques coexist within a contemporary artistic framework.
The project was realized with the support of Tsakonia Archives and the Melitzazz Festival, in collaboration with local weavers Evangelia Georgitsi, Sofia Kambysi, Erini Kambysi, Thomais Korologlou, Anna Lysikatou, and Metaxou Xanteli.
year
2022











