Since around the mid-1950s, twenty years after Hotel Sophia opened its doors, Hydra has not just been a travel destination, but also an international, artistic one. Many important exhibitions every year combined with the love of Greek and foreign collectors for the island have turned Hydra into an artistic hub.
For those seeking a journey through art, begin your exploration at the old Slaughterhouse of Hydra, where the DESTE Foundation (a non-profit organization established in Geneva in 1983 by collector Dakis Joannou) has been hosting contemporary art exhibitions since 2009. These exhibits are designed to blend harmoniously with the venue’s specific premises.
Its most iconic work? The sculpture “Apollo Windspinner”, the golden sun of the renowned American artist Jeff Koons, a wind spinner that rotates around itself, with the power of the wind. The sculpture is now a permanent installation in Hydra, providing every visitor and art lover with a truly unforgettable experience. The “sun” has found its port!
Other exhibition spaces include the mansion of Admiral Emmanuel Tompazis where a branch of the Athens School of Fine Arts is located, and the home and studio of Panagiotis Tetsis, a significant Greek painter born in Hydra.
