Incarnation
by Vassilis Makris

In 2006, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation announced plans to fund the development
of the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center (SNFCC), a project that includes
the construction of the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera,
as well as the creation of the 42 acre (170,000 m²) Stavros Niarchos Park.

In September 2013 the project acquired an image.
It’s “body” became visible, defeating gravity daily while steadily reaching
higher towards the realization of its vision.

That is when the “incarnation” took place.

The “soul”, Maria Kousouni, the principal dancer with the Greek National Opera Ballet,
entered the “body” of the SNFCC. She danced at the construction site on earth,
wood and concrete with the same grace, beauty and charm as she would have done
on the stage. With gentle, refined moves she transformed the site into
an endless stage, infusing it with her aura.

Following that, in a pas de deux with Vaggelis Bikos, they embody the
incarnation of dance, music and song, the three key elements of the classical
art form called opera.

Photography: Vassilis Makris
Interpreted by:
Μaria Kousouni, Principal Dancer with the Greek National Opera Ballet
Vaggelis Bikos, Principal Dancer with the Greek National Opera Ballet
Choreography: Vaggelis Bikos
Costume design & make-up: Dimitris Dimitroulis

Special thanks to the Greek National Opera, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation,
the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, the Project Manager Faithful
& Gould and the Salini Impregilo-TERNA joint venture.

• incarnation (ĭn′kär-nā′shən) 1. the act of manifesting or state of being manifested
in bodily form 2. (Theology) the Christian doctrine of the union of God and man
in the person of Jesus Christ 3. the personification or embodiment of some quality,
idea or principle
* Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers
1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Copyright © 2013-2018 Vassilis Makris

* The Sixteen photos presented at the opening of “Light Up the Night”,
at the Stavros Niarchos Park, from June 21st to 24th, 2015
** “Swan Lake”