A multidimensional cultural journey bringing together visual art, poetry and the scientific observation of the Universe will take place from September 16 to October 4, 2026, at the National Library of Greece (NLG), located at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). The group exhibition “Synastry”, conceived and initiated by Lefteris Moysiadis and curated by Kostas Prapoglou, extends beyond a single exhibition venue, unfolding across four different locations in Athens and creating a unique “star map” of the city.
At the heart of the project lies the human desire to understand the Universe and our place within it. “Synastry” draws on the astrological term not as a means of prediction, but as a system for exploring relationships, affinities and unexpected correspondences between human beings and the celestial sphere, as well as between art, poetry, science and collective memory.
From a Walk on the Hill of the Nymphs
The idea was born during the pandemic, following a walk by Lefteris Moysiadis on the Hill of the Nymphs, below the National Observatory of Athens. As he observed the symbols of the constellations engraved on the Observatory’s dome, he conceived the idea of inviting visual artists to interpret the constellations and planets through painting and sculpture. Over time, the initial idea organically expanded through encounters with people and institutions who recognized in it a shared field of dialogue. The participation of curator Kostas Prapoglou, who took on the curatorship of the exhibition, proved decisive. As he explains, “Synastry” operates on multiple levels: on the one hand, it explores human relationships, and on the other, humanity’s relationship with the unknown. Visitors move among works of art and poetry while also encountering rare books and manuscripts, in a multidimensional experience that brings together visual art, language, scientific knowledge and memory.
Twenty Visual Artists, Thirteen Poets and the Collections of the National Library of Greece
In the atrium on the 4th floor of the National Library of Greece, beneath the glass ceiling that allows natural light and the changing sky to become part of the experience, 20 visual artists present works inspired by planets, constellations and cosmic narratives. The works bring together mythology, scientific observation, the celestial sphere, and personal and collective memory. Woven into this visual journey are the voices of 13 contemporary Greek poets, whose poems were written especially for the project and function as “constellations of language.” Where the image gives form, the verse adds rhythm and an inner resonance.
The exhibition is complemented by rare manuscripts and books on cosmography, astronomy and astrology from the National Library of Greece’s Special Collections. The juxtaposition of contemporary works with historical materials creates a dialogue between different eras: the observation of the sky by scientists of the past meets the contemporary artistic gaze, highlighting the timeless human need to interpret the Universe.
“Synastry” in the City
The project extends beyond the National Library of Greece to three additional landmark venues in Athens.
National Observatory of Athens – Hill of the Nymphs
Before the official opening of the exhibition, the National Observatory of Athens, Greece’s first research institution, will host a special event at its main facilities on the Hill of the Nymphs in Thissio. The public and members of the artistic community will have the opportunity to engage directly with the scientific observation of the sky through a guided tour and observations of the night sky, planets and constellations using the Observatory’s historic telescopes.
Eugenides Foundation Planetarium
At the Eugenides Foundation Planetarium, visitors will be able to take part in “Live Space Tours,” which make use of an advanced space-flight simulation system. The dates of the tours will be announced soon. The programme brings scientific knowledge together with the experience of a virtual journey through space, extending the central idea of “Synastry” from the exhibition space into the Universe itself.
The journey culminates on Saturday, September 26, under the full moon, at the new Stoa Arsaki. In the atrium of the Stoa, the poets participating in “Synastry” will read the poems they wrote especially for the project. Poetry will meet the night sky, followed immediately by a musical event dedicated to the Full Moon.
“The Universe Restores Measure”
For Lefteris Moysiadis, “Synastry” is also an opportunity to reconsider humanity’s place in the world. Modern technology often creates the illusion that everything can be measured, predicted and controlled. The Universe, by contrast, “restores a sense of proportion.” The awareness that we are small in relation to the Universe, he notes, is not a humiliation but an act of self-awareness. Awe in the face of infinity frees us from the belief that we are at the center of everything and can ultimately make us “more sensitive, more humble and more human.”
The event is organized in collaboration with the National Library of Greece, the National Observatory of Athens and the Eugenides Foundation, and is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, the General Secretariat for Communication and Information, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Municipality of Kallithea. The communication sponsor is Tsakalou P.R. Agency.
Accessibility for All: Particular emphasis has been placed on ensuring equal access for people with visual impairments. The exhibition includes tactile representations of artworks, audio descriptions, specially designed labels and informational materials, enabling visitors with visual impairments to experience and engage with the artworks, poetry and books presented in the exhibition.
Information
Venue: 4th-floor atrium of the National Library of Greece, SNFCC, 364 Syngrou Avenue, Kallithea
Dates: September 16 – October 4, 2026
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 09:30–20:00
Admission: Free
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