“When the Routes of the Olive Tree met the Routes of Silk”, a retrospective look to the latest exposition presented by the Cultural Foundation “The routes of the Olive Tree” with theme “Routes of the Olive Tree, Routes of Intercultural dialogue”
This exposition was an idea of the collaborators of the Cultural Foundation that was created in the framework of last summers 10th Cultural Route through 12 countries, starting from Greece and following the Silk Routes in Central Asia and Eastern Europe through Russia.The exposition is the result of a project that has been implemented for many years by the Cultural Foundation, with the aim of diffusing the symbolism and values of the olive trees, as well as presenting its beneficial products to the public. The exposition ispresented on the outside of a container truck which was transformed into a mobile activities center and an effective promotion tool of the olive tree heritage, according to the mentality of the Cultural Foundation.
The exposition is divided into 2 large sections and many subsections, dedicated to the presentation of the Routes of the Olive Tree and the Mediterranean, the olive tree heritage and intercultural dialogue. The themes are exhibited on 16 big banners , placed at the different stops of the itinerary.
The objective is to develop intercultural dialogue between two commercial and cultural routes, the routes of silk and the route of the olive tree, conveyers of ideas, values and knowledge for centuries. Each banner presents a specific aspect of these important routes: the Routes of the Olive Tree as routes of intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and peace among people and civilizations, cultivation of the olive tree and the tree�s beneficial products, history and geography, the activities and aims of the Cultural Foundation etc.
Each presentation of the exhibition is framed by tasting of olive products, combining knowledge and information with culinary discoveries.
In charge of the Exposition was Marinella Katsilieri,scientific responsible and coordinator of the �Routes of the Olive Tree�, in cooperation with the Museum of Civilization of Europe and Mediterranean�MUCEM in France (thanks to the invaluable cooperation of the museologist Colette Foissey and Edouard de Laubrie, responsible of researches and museum collections) and was placed under the auspices of the European Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
During the 10th cultural itinerary last summer and despite some technical difficulties that did not allow the exposition to be presented in all the transit cities, it was met with enthusiasm and had great success in many cities, like Kiev and Bucharest. Its originality attracted the interest of local population and was promoted by the local media. On the occasion of the exposition in the transit countries, posters and leaflets of the Olive Tree Routes were distributed. The artists who joined the itinerary also presented their work created during the journey, such as sketches and aquarelles by the painter Heike Kummer and photos by the photographers Andrea Bonetti, Giorgos Prinos and Tassos Vamvakas. The exposition included also a line of collectors pieces that was bought by the Cultural Foundation during the itinerary, with the cooperation of Mr. A. Sagiannos. The visitors of the exhibition were equally impressed by the open-air painting workshop, which had as theme the creation of an enormous olive grove, an artistic activity realized in cooperation with the �Center of Environmental Formation of Kalamata�.
The Museum of Civilizations of the Europe and the Mediterranean � MUCEMwill be the biggest museum in France with its theme the civilizations and societies of all the regions in, the Mediterranean. The goal of the MUCEM, which will open its doors to the public in 2013 in Marseille, is the promotion of the great social issues that characterize these regions. The olive tree and its civilization will be one of the basic sections of the ΜUCEM and it is being realized in cooperation with the cultural foundation �The Routes of the Olive Tree�.