AEF2026: Objects of Common Interest

This summer, Athens Epidaurus Festival's main city venue, the former industrial complex in Piraeus 260, celebrates 20 years as one of the city’s most vital cultural meeting points. Under the artistic direction of Michail Marmarinos, this year’s landmark programme unfolds across two months of theatre, dance, music, performance, and multidisciplinary works, bringing together more than 50 events by acclaimed international artists alongside some of the most exciting voices from Greece’s contemporary scene. Piraeus 260 will live through the Athenian summer as a dynamic space where emerging creators, established names, and curious audiences come together to explore what contemporary performance can be today. New collaborations, technology-driven works, and immersive experiences sit alongside bold theatrical productions, live music, and cutting-edge choreography.

Amongst these immersive experiences is the return of the innovative light installation by the award-winning studio Objects of Common Interest, which has become an integral part of the venue's visual identity. Founded by architects and designers Elena Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, who split their time between Athens and New York, the studio focuses on creating sculptural pieces that completely redefine the relationship between physical space and materiality. Following high-profile international accolades from Wallpaper* and Elle Deco, the duo continues to push the boundaries of design with this monumental piece.

Dominating the open-air courtyard, the installation features a constellation of luminous tube lights in shifting shapes and loops that trace a glowing "embrace" around Building D. Through a playful interplay of form and height, it activates the industrial architecture in an organic way, creating a bright, surreal landscape that frames the entire venue. It serves as a stunning visual preamble, inviting you to wander through a field of light before and after the evening's main performances.