Preserving Hydra’s Artistic and Musical Heritage: A Conversation  with Ekaterina Juskowski

When did your romance with Hydra begin?

During a twenty-four-hour music performance for the goats. We gathered in Episkopi, a beautiful remote part of Hydra. Picture this: a Bauhaus villa perched atop the island, no electricity, no Wi-Fi, no mobile reception, just a star-strewn sky, the sounds of cicadas and goat bells in the olive groves. Then Gorkem Sen creates some  cosmic reverberations with his yaybahar, the late Ariel Kalma plays flutes, didgeridoo, and saxophone. I was among an international group of artists, musicians, and writers with no agenda beyond pure, unfiltered creation. It was one of those surreal experiences that I believe can only happen on Hydra and make you fall in love with the island.

Since 2019, you’ve been leading an art residency program at the Old Carpet Factory on Hydra. What inspired this project?

The island’s breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural lineage, and deeply connected community of artists and intellectuals foster an atmosphere like no other. But there is also a quiet struggle, the slow erosion of local traditions, and the fading of Hydra’s unique cultural practices. I wanted to use art as a vessel for preservation, ensuring that Hydra’s true identity remains celebrated, not forgotten.

The Warp of Time exhibition last year explored Hydra’s history and artisanal heritage. Tell us about that journey.

The exhibition was the culmination of three years of immersive research into Hydra’s history, with a particular focus on the Old Carpet Factory mansion. The house is an architectural time capsule deeply connected to the island’s history. It served as a carpet-making facility under the Soutzoglou family over a century ago and contributed to the island’s artisanal, cultural, but also played an important economical part in providing jobs for women. Central to The Warp of Time exhibition was an exquisite antique carpet, woven in the very house in 1924, it was presented alongside the works of Helen Marden, an artist whose deep connection to Hydra has shaped her artistic vision since the 1970s. The exhibition was a celebration, a bridge between generations, and a reminder of the community sustained through the art of weaving. If you’re curious to dive deeper, The Warp of Time book is the perfect way to learn about the project.

This year, you turn your attention to Hydra’s musical traditions. What makes its soundscape unique?

Hydra’s musical traditions aren’t immediately visible. Unlike other Greek islands, Hydra’s soundscape required deeper exploration: connecting with locals, visiting their homes, and traveling to remote monasteries. As part of the Art Residency at the Old Carpet Factory, I invited ethnomusicologist Angela Tisner and cultural researcher Alkistis Boutsioukou to spend some time on the island. Together, we immersed ourselves in the community of Hydra, listening to stories, unraveling musical histories, and tracing melodies across generations. Our research uncovered an interesting interplay between sacred and secular music on the island. We were lucky to have a very knowledgeable guide, Father Georgios Vlachopoulos of Agia Varvara Church. An extraordinary figure, he teaches Byzantine chants, plays tuba in Hydra’s music club, and speaks multiple languages. Thanks to his curiosity and enthusiasm for our work, we came to understand that music on Hydra is never singular, it’s spiritual, social, and deeply personal. 

What is  Hydra: Island in the Sound ?

It’s both an auditory portrait of Hydra and a sonic mythology, reimagined through the voices of its people. Angela Tisner crafted six compositions, each featuring the voices of locals.. In Island in the Sound, Sister Efthimia of Agia Efpraxia Monastery lends her voice to the landscape. Kantada brings the presence of Hydra’s beloved Dr. Sotiria Balaban as she speaks about her work, alongside Yannis Gavalas singing a love song. One track even features Hydra port legend Pan Lembesis, his voice carrying Psaropola into the air like a memory set adrift. These voices feel both distant and close, echoing across the island, hovering above its rhythms like an auditory tide. Suspended in song, Hydra’s music transcends time, transforming its everyday sounds into something deeply evocative. It’s our love letter to the island. 

 

How will you present this work to the public? 

In two ways. First, as a 7” limited-edition numbered EP, produced by Mnemosyne Projects in collaboration with the Old Carpet Factory Recording Studio. And second, as a site-specific art installation at the Hydra Lyceum’s amphitheater, hosted by Hydra School Projects where Tisner’s compositions will engage in a dialogue with works by Dimitrios Antonitsis. The opening reception and the EP launch will take place on June 20 at 8pm at the Lyceum. 

For someone visiting Hydra…

Three words to describe the island?

Timeless, untamed and poetic.

Your favourite time of year to go there?

Off-season. That’s when Hydra reveals herself. 

Your perfect day in Hydra is… 

The one that starts quietly with a Greek coffee and a book and ends at a long loud table with good friends.

Best spot for a sunset cocktail?

Wherever the sunset catches you with a drink in hand.

Your favourite beach or swimming spot?

We keep those as treasured secrets. 

Where should we go for an always fabulous dining experience?

It depends on the kind of fabulous you want. Il Casta is picture-perfect, great food and wine selection, Mediterranean aesthetic that will leave everyone on your social media feed longing. Douscos—great for gathering friends for a feast. Oraia Hydra—a quiet kind of fabulous.

If your island was a celebrity or other famous person, who would it be?

Not a celebrity, but a soul. Stephan Collredo-Mansfeld embodies Hydra’s spirit like no one else.

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