Nari Ward: Until That Day

If you are looking for the perfect excuse to hop on a ferry and escape the capital for a day or two, you should absolutely check out the DESTE Foundation's latest project on Hydra. This summer, the island's iconic old Slaughterhouse space is hosting a deeply powerful installation by the celebrated New York-based artist Nari Ward called Until That Day. Ward is renowned for taking discarded, everyday materials found in local neighbourhoods and completely reimagining them to tackle big social issues, but this specific show takes on an incredibly personal local focus, shining a bright light on the history and struggles of the African community living in Greece.

The exhibition takes its name from a landmark 1963 United Nations speech by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, which famously went on to inspire Bob Marley’s legendary anthem War. To bring this history to life, Ward has brought together a brilliant group of Afro-Greek musicians, including the traditional rebetika singer Aggelos Aggelou, to perform a unique musical response that fills the historic space. It is an incredibly moving tribute that deals with modern issues of nationalism and displacement, while beautifully celebrating the rich, diverse cultural contributions that African immigrants and refugees bring to modern Greek society.