A Blossom Unafraid of Time

In the heart of the Medieval City of Rhodes, within the emblematic Auberge de France, two contemporary voices in ceramic art explore the history and architectural heritage of the site through the lens of resilience and perseverance. For three weeks, Nasia Pavlidou and George Tserionis engaged with the layered past of the Auberge and the intricate symbols that adorn the Medieval City, from carved blossoms and botanical motifs to the timeless Tree of Life, drawing inspiration from the traces of time that continue to bloom.

The exhibition “A Blossom Unafraid of Time” grows out of this creative encounter. Rooted in the symbolic and visual language of the Medieval City, it reflects on the enduring nature of beauty and meaning – how motifs, like memories, are passed down, transformed, and reborn without fear of time.

Nasia Pavlidou focuses on the fragility and strength of flowers as emblems of human connection and emotion. Her organic, tactile sculptures are quiet meditations on tenderness, transformation, and the fleeting nature of moments.

George Tserionis, inspired by the Tree of Life motif found in local ceramics and in the architectural details of the Auberge, combines clay with volcanic rock, ceramic fragments, and experimental firing techniques. His hybrid forms recall both ancient relics and future discoveries, evoking cycles of life, transformation, and the delicate balance between endurance and decay.

The garden and courtyard of the Auberge de France are transformed into a living field of dialogue between past and present, inviting visitors to wander among symbols that have endured for centuries – blossoms and trees with roots deep in history, still turning toward the light.

Curated by Loukia Thomopoulou, the exhibition is part of the program Clay Commons – Bridging Heritage, Innovation & Community | CC_Vol.1, held under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Constantine An. Tassoulas. Clay Commons, co-organised by the South Aegean Region, the Auberge de France in Rhodes, and Big Blue Dot, is an initiative of the Biennale of Contemporary Keramics (BCK). It takes place in the intervening years between BCK editions, keeping the dialogue alive with the place that hosted the previous Biennale while building bridges toward its next destination.