Searching for the Goddess is a contemporary art group exhibition, curated by Michael Afolayan, Founder of ANASA Organization and Sophia Xenelli, Art Historian and Museologist, that aims to create a platform for expression and dialogue, exploring themes related to African cultures and histories. Searching for the Goddess offers six Greek artists of African descent an opportunity to communicate both their personal and artistic identity, while also reflecting collective narratives embedded within them.

The exhibition is showcased within the spaces of the exhibition Africa Amongst us*, as part of the parallel events, at the Benaki Museum/Pireos 138, from April 3 until May 4, 2025.

The inspiration for this artistic journey stems from the story of the Zulu goddess Nomkhubulwane and the traditional healers izangoma chosen by her to protect the community and maintain its balance. Between 1996 and 1998, the women of Bulwer in South Africa revived the rituals and annual festivals dedicated to the goddess. They sought to reconnect with a deity long buried under a way of life shaped by colonial rule and apartheid politics. These women, as modern-day diviners who continue to uphold their cultural identity, strengthened community bonds and bridged the past with the present.

The participating artists were invited to reflect on this story and search for their own Goddess. Immersing themselves in personal and collective memories, they guide us through fictional and existing spaces filled with people’s stories. Through paintings and installations, we witness how the role of the healer extends to the artist, who transcends the boundary between the material and immaterial world. By realizing their creative vision and connecting past and present, they invite us into a space where tradition meets contemporary expression.

Searching for the Goddess exhibition is supported by NEON through its annual Grants Scheme.