Summary
- The exhibition connects photography, embroidery and women’s memory.
- It runs in Heraklion from 2 to 15 October 2026.
- The opening is on 2 October at 19:00 and admission is free.
Event Details
The exhibition “What Wasn’t Said Was Embroidered” brings together photography and embroidery in Heraklion, taking women’s memory, dowry traditions and unspoken intergenerational stories as its starting point.
Featuring work by photographer Mina Trikali and embroiderer Nana Lambraki, curated by Dora Lavazou, the exhibition will run from 2 to 15 October 2026 at the Multipurpose Space – Gallery of the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion. The opening takes place on Friday, 2 October at 19:00.
The project began with Mina Trikali’s personal dowry chest and the items made by her mother. Ten symbolic female figures meet authentic embroidery, family objects and short phrases that function as inner monologues.
When photography moves onto fabric
The photographs are transferred by hand onto fabric and combined with Nana Lambraki’s embroidered interventions. Thread is not used merely as decoration; it becomes part of the narrative, linking the photographic image to family tradition and memory.
The project extends beyond the wall-based works. Audio testimonies, interviews, video and archival material form part of the installation, bringing real voices and personal stories of women into the exhibition space.
Dowry as an unwritten history
The exhibition approaches dowry not only as a social institution of the past, but as a carrier of memory. Embroidery, textiles and family heirlooms become a way to bring forward care, endurance, values, silences and experiences passed from one generation to the next.
As Mina Trikali notes: “The most precious dowry is not kept in chests. It is what we endured. What we kept. What we passed on without being said.”
Exhibition information
- Dates: 2–15 October 2026
- Opening: Friday, 2 October 2026, 19:00
- Venue: Multipurpose Space – Gallery of the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion, 8 Chrysostomou Street, Heraklion
- Opening hours: Monday–Friday 10:00–14:00 and 18:00–21:00
- Weekends and public holidays: closed
- Admission: free
- Contact: 2810 339067, [email protected]
Contributors
Artistic creation, research, photography, video, interviews, sound recording, editing and sound mixing are by Mina Trikali, who also handled the handmade transfer and production of the works. The embroidered artistic intervention is by Nana Lambraki and the exhibition is curated by Dora Lavazou.
Installation is overseen by Andreas Stavrianoudakis-Kampas. The catalogue texts are by Stella Chaireti and Ljubica Kardaki, catalogue photographs are by Mina Trikali and Andreas Stavrianoudakis-Kampas, while video editing and post-production are by Nikos Simos. Maria Trikali performs the lullaby and graphic design is by Semeli Apostolaki – Alfa 3 Art Ground.
The exhibition is funded by the Region of Crete, with the support of its Directorate of Culture and Independent Office for Equality, as part of the “WOMEN” parallel programme of the Crete Festival 2026. The parallel action “Women – Cultural Heritage – Creation” is held under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and the General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights.
What we think
The exhibition’s distinctive element is the way photography moves beyond the conventional frame and meets fabric, handmade intervention and oral testimony. The connection between image and embroidery works as a narrative device for memory rather than as a purely technical combination.
Frequently asked questions
When is the opening?
The opening is on Friday, 2 October 2026 at 19:00.
Where is the exhibition taking place?
At the Multipurpose Space – Gallery of the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion, 8 Chrysostomou Street, Heraklion.
Is there an admission fee?
No. Admission is free.
What days is it open?
The exhibition is open Monday to Friday, 10:00–14:00 and 18:00–21:00. It is closed on weekends and public holidays.
