Mikro Kilikio

Interior of an art gallery with a sitting area and a wooden table, decorated with numerous framed artworks on the walls. There are two people at a small bar counter in the background.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a striped turtleneck and a chunky beige sweater, laughing behind a wooden counter with small glasses and bottled drinks, some of which contain orange juice, in a cozy cafe or market setting.
Living space with gallery wall, beige sofa with purple pillows, wooden dining table, and a kitchen area with two people at the counter.

Mikro Kilikio is envisioned as a welcoming extension of Mikro Studio—a cozy, multi-functional space located just beside the main area. At its core is the idea of a small bar that could come to life between classes and during special moments, offering drinks, light refreshments, and a warm atmosphere for visitors to potentially unwind and connect. More than just a casual meeting point, Mikro Kilikio is imagined as a platform for visual expression, with its blend of creativity, community, and culture, it’s a space where artistic energy flows freely and conversations naturally unfold.

Petersburg Hanging

Seeing the World through the Eyes of Children

A young woman with a green knit hat, black jacket, and backpack standing in front of a wall of colorful paintings, holding a piece of paper and looking thoughtfully at the artwork.
Two women observing and discussing colorful paintings on a gallery wall.
Set of four colorful paintings on a white textured wall. The top left depicts a woman with long hair holding a sleeping child, framed in dark wood. The top right features an abstract face with geometric shapes and bold colors. The bottom left is an abstract painting with red, orange, and black paint splotches. The bottom right shows a landscape with a bright sun, blue sky, trees, and cars on a road.
Two young children, a boy with brown hair and a girl with light brown hair, sitting on a mustard-colored couch with multiple pillows, engaged in a close conversation. There is a colorful children's book titled 'Underwater World' resting on the couch next to them. The background features a textured white wall decorated with various framed children's drawings and paintings.

Children are masters of imagination - with a pencil or a brush in their hand and a piece of paper in front of them, they create their own world: in their heads, lines become snakes and streets, an oval becomes an alien spaceship, and dots become flying birds. However, it is precisely this instinctive carelessness that leads us to view that their drawings as mere souvenirs or, at best, decoration for the refrigerator door.

However, if we delve a little into recent art history, we find a long list of artists who are inspired by the unmistakable authenticity and quality of children drawings and paintings. But isn’t the logical next step for us to celebrate their artistic products as an event in their own right?

With this exhibition, we would like to show and honor the visions they put on paper and enable those who have grown through childhood to reflect on the value of children’s art and culture and to develop a deeper appreciation for it. (H.S.)

An Exhibition on Child Art Curator: Hanna Schimek

‘‘Creativity is a central source of meaning in our lives... most things that are interesting, important and human are the result of creativity.’’

-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Petersburg Hanging

A group of people standing in an art gallery with white textured walls and a wooden ceiling, surrounded by various framed paintings and photographs.

The First Exhibition at Mikro Kilikio

An elderly woman wearing glasses and a red sweater arranging framed artwork on a white textured wall. There is a yellow cushion or blanket in the foreground and a silver step ladder to her right.
Art gallery display with framed artwork laid out on a black table against a stone and white wall, featuring portraits, landscapes, and illustrations.

The so-called Petersburg hanging, also known as salon hanging, is one of the oldest and most visually rich methods of displaying art in galleries and cultural spaces. Originating from the grand tradition of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg—one of the world’s most renowned art institutions—this style is characterized by a floor-to-ceiling arrangement of artworks that creates a striking sense of abundance and eclecticism. Rather than adhering to a strict order, it embraces an aesthetic of curated chaos, allowing each piece to engage in visual and thematic dialogue with its neighbors.

This distinctive layout was chosen for the very first exhibition at Mikro Kilikio, a new space adjacent to Mikro Studio. With its inviting bar and warm atmosphere, Mikro Kilikio is being shaped into a dynamic venue for artistic exchange, offering a platform for exhibitions, gatherings, and conversation. The inaugural exhibition, curated by artist and cultural producer Hanna Schimek, was the result of an open call to the residents of Aegina, inviting local artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to share their work. The result is a vibrant, diverse collection that reflects the creative spirit of the island—presented in a form that celebrates visual dialogue, community, and expressive abundance.

An Art Exhibition Curator: Hanna Schimek