This year’s Art Athina finds Nikolaos de Grèce — son of the former monarch Constantine of Greece — stepping into the spotlight with a project that fuses art, design, and cultural memory. In collaboration with the Stefanidou Tsoukala Gallery, he brings a fresh interpretation of one of the most iconic objects of design: the klismos chair.

Gallery owner and director Laura Tsoukala gave de Grèce the space and framework to explore his own take on timelessness. The result is an exhibition that moves beyond historical reflection, sparking a conversation about the past and present of Greek cultural identity.

At the heart of the show is de Grèce’s striking black-and-white triptych dedicated to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio. The choice of monument — bound to both sea and mythology — is no accident. He reimagines it as a dramatic stage for the klismos, creating a dialogue between the monumental and the everyday, the grandeur of ancient architecture and the human-centered harmony of design.

In stark monochrome, the temple takes on a transcendent aura, underscoring the resilience of culture and the enduring value of memory.

Tsoukala’s role is pivotal. With the sensitivity of a gallerist who balances tradition with innovation, she has bridged the historic legacy of the klismos with de Grèce’s contemporary vision. For her, the chair is not merely a design object, but a symbol of continuity.

Through their collaboration, that symbolism is charged with artistic force, opening a dialogue about history, the future of design, and the urgency of sustainability in today’s world.

On one side stands Tsoukala, who has long built bridges between heritage and contemporary creativity. On the other, de Grèce, who illuminates Greek legacy with renewed intensity. Together, they propose a new reading: where a piece of design becomes a vessel of cultural memory, and art itself emerges as the language that binds yesterday to tomorrow.