By Iliana Magra

Hundreds of Greeks and visitors from around the world waited patiently outside the DESTE Foundation Project Space Slaughterhouse, Hydra’s old slaughterhouse that’s been converted into an exhibition space by the Dakis Ioannou Foundation, to see Jeff Koons’ latest project.

The American artist did not disappoint. In addition to a huge bronze and copper alloy sun, Koons transformed the entire space into a temple to Apollo – a journey to self-discovery.

“Know thyself,” he writes at the entrance to the tiny space, which he completely remodelled for the sake of the project – from the mosaic floor to the ornate murals and the deep-blue ceiling with real gold leaf. The space is dominated by a statue of Apollo, adorned with a crown – also made of gold leaf –  his tunic, harp, and a python so lifelike that it discouraged a little girl from entering the room.

Irises “guard” the statue, opposite of which we see a pair of bronze sneakers. “Outside it says ‘Know Thyself’ and the shoes show the philosophy of knowing yourself, of walking wearing your own shoes,” says Mr Koons, speaking to Kathimerini.

The artist has a long-standing relationship with both Hydra and Dakis Ioannou. “I am here because Dakis Ioannou invited me. They host an exhibition every year at the Slaughterhouse, and Dakis and I have been very good friends for the last 36 years,” he says, showing a photo of the two of them in Hydra from 1986.

“I accepted his invitation with great pleasure because I wanted to celebrate both freedom as a concept and the freedom I now have as an artist to do the work I want to do,” he adds.

He stresses that this particular exhibition is about how one defines oneself, how Koons defines himself, what truly matters, but also about the island of Hydra itself. “The foundations of the culture of Hydra are based on the pursuit of freedom,” he adds.

Emerging the exhibition, Ioannou tells Kathimerini that this project is a “key work” in Koons’ career. “That’s what he himself says, ‘I finally did what I wanted to do,’ he told me,” says Ioannou.

In relation to this particular feat, both come back to the importance of their relationship with each other and with the island. “It started with the first trip to Hydra in 1986,” Mr. Ioannou says, “and he completes this long journey with a stirring first experience of this project.”

For the opening, the delegates from Art for Tomorrow, which took place this year for the first time in Greece, came to Hydra. Outside the exhibition space, the rays continue to spiral in the sun and all you can smell is sage and the sea.

This article was previously published at kathimerini.gr.