“Miss, you are confused, the exhibition is upstairs,” the officers told me. Accustomed to big NEON contemporary art tributes, passing by the gates of Kapnergostasi last week, out of habit, I went up to the first floor, where 20 impressive installations from the collection of Dimitris Daskalopoulos were displayed. But this time the invitation came from the Greek parliament, which owns the magnificent building, and it concerned the opening of a large periodical exhibition on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the events in Smyrna. Its title is Stories of Survival: Refugees and Work in New Lands. Its purpose is to show the resilience of the exiles, and how their presence was a beneficent boon that made Greek society prosperous a few decades later.

In addition to this narrative, there are two other exhibitions in the same space: “1922 in the Press”, dedicated to the coverage of journalistic production with an emphasis on the dramatic events that took place after September 22, as they are captured in the press of that time. and the exhibition “Refugees: 1922+ Survival – Integration”, featuring 44 original works by 27 artists. Most of them are of refugee origin, 2nd and 3rd generation, who tell their micro stories about the 22nd. Documents, scraps, works of art, newspapers – all together make a magnificent record with perfection and passion.

The key was the position of the Chairman of the Greek Parliament, Kostas Tasula, who spoke from the bottom of his heart with his characteristic rhetorical gift, as well as a great knowledge of history: he described our nation as “bipartite on both sides of the Aegean.” , which “one of these cotyledons he came to Greece and instilled in us.” He added that “perceiving the Asia Minor Greece and the consciousness of Asia Minor, we better understand ourselves.”

The opening was attended by Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni, former Speaker of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, Chairman of the Parliamentary Library Committee Anna Mani-Papadimitriou, Secretary General of the Parliament Georgios Milonakis, MPs, representatives of numerous institutions that provided valuable exhibits and crowds of people. However, it is worth once again dwelling on the amazing building of the Tobacco Factory, towering over Lenormand. Part of it was recently refurbished by NEON and it really is a small architectural gem in an authentic Athenian area. Those who have not been in it yet should go through its doors.