Panel Talks

ATHENS CONFERENCE 2025

The Art of Life Collective is honored to collaborate with the NPO Unity in Philia and participate in two consecutive events of literary, artistic, spiritual and scientific interest on the last Saturday of November. The events will take place within the framework of “Athens Conference 2025” hosted by Unity in Philia. The conference will bring together representatives of the Greek diaspora, academics, artists and experts from Greece and abroad, promoting cooperation and cultural diplomacy.

*The artbook presentation and panel talks are two out of the four events of the conference. The complete program of the conference is listed at the bottom of this page.

Venue: Antonis Tritsis Amphitheater, Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens (50 Akadimias street)
Date: Saturday, November 29th
Free Admission

Talk Series: “The Adventure of Consciousness: Science – Art – Spirituality”

The event features five talks which share as common ground the significance of science, art, and spirituality in the evolution of consciousness. Speakers from the respective fields will present their thoughts on the nature of consciousness, exploring how these three pillars of culture influence and shape the human experience at the core of its existence.

Moderator: Dr. Vassilis Adrahtas | Head of Hellenic Studies – UNSW, General Director of Actions & Programs – Unity in Philia

Talks 18:00 – 20:00

Human and Cosmos: science as path to self-knowledge | Dr. Alexandros Antoniadis-Karnavas (Doctor of Astrophysics – University of Porto, Research & Development Advisor – Unity in Philia)
The transformations of consciousness in art: from spiritual vision to the networked mind | Dr. Eleni Gemtou (Associate Professor – Department of History and Philosophy of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
Post-virtual: artificial intelligence, photography and spirituality of the self | Dimitris Bekridakis (Teacher, Theologian – MA in Religious Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
Art as individual and collective therapy | Dr. Dimosthenis Davvetas (Professor of Philosophy – Institut d’études supérieures des arts Paris, Writer, Artist)
Spiritual work as a foundation for the modern creator | Freideriki Papastavropoulou (Artist – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Representative of the Art of Life Collective)

ATHENS CONFERENCE 2025

PROGRAM

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29

1st EVENT 10:30 – 12:00

From Athens to the World: Bridges of Innovation, Creativity and Culture. – How innovation, creativity and cultural diplomacy can transform societies and connect communities around the world.

Moderator: Katerina Pylarinou (Head of Strategic Partnerships – Unity in Philia)
Introduction: Konstantinos Sgouras (Co-Founder, Head of International Programming and Administration – Unity in Philia)

Talks :

Culture and Tourism: Professionals in the Digital Age | Dr. Achilleas Kameas (Founder and Director of the DAISSy research group – Hellenic Open University) | Panagiota Polymeropoulou (Archaeologist-Museologist, DAISSy research group – Hellenic Open University)
The Innovation Map: From Conception to Sustainable Development | Elina Karamanou (CEO Athens Financial Services)
Real Estate: An Alternative Approach | Giannis Karasarinis (Real Estate Specialist, Public Relations Consultant – Unity in Philia)
The-more-than-human heritage of Kefalonia: Infrastructure as a tool for Ecosystem Stewardship | Paolo Apostolidis (University Researcher, Head of Human Environment & Architectural Research Programs – Unity in Philia)

2nd EVENT 12:30 – 14:00

Migration & Diaspora – New approaches to integration, cultural identity and the economic contribution of communities.

Moderator: Elyse Isheja (Head of East Africa Programs & Advisor for African Community Issues in Greece – Unity in Philia)

Speakers :

Richard Spyros Hagambimana (Special Advisor to the Minister – Ministry of Immigration and Asylum)
Paraskevi Trifylli (Head of Wellbeing & Social Inclusion Programs – Unity in Philia)
Elyse Isheja (Head of East Africa Programs & Advisor for African Community Issues in Greece – Unity in Philia)
George Katsifaras (PhD Candidate in Historical Linguistics, Advisor for Greek Culture Programs – Unity in Philia)
Nikolaos Tsolozidis (Psychologist, Public Relations Advisor – Unity in Philia)

3rd EVENT 16:00 – 17:30

Artbook presentation & dialogue: “Consciousness’ Journey to the Transcendent – Tuning the Finite to the Infinity” – authored by Dr. Vassilis Adrahtas.

A book that captures the common denominator of a deeper spiritual essence through quotes of the Greek poet Nikos Kazantzakis, the Indian philosopher Sri Aurobindo and through the visual work of the Art of Life Collective.

Moderator: Lila Nikolaou (Economic & Curatorial Activities, Founding Member – Art of Life Collective)

Talks :

Introduction – Three dialogues in one book: How Consciousness’ Journey to the Transcendent came about | Dr. Vassilis Adrahtas (Head of Hellenic Studies – UNSW, General Director of Actions & Programs – Unity in Philia)
The sacred in life and in art | Dr. Aikaterini Triantafyllopoulou (Art Historian, Head of Hellenic Culture Programs – Unity in Philia)
Art of Life Collective | Mini Documentary (7min)
Dialogue (Q&A) | Art of Life Collective (Alexia Grammenidou, Alkistis Panagiotopoulou, Eirini Apsychou, Lila Nikolaou, Marsy Syreggela, Freideriki Papastavropoulou)

4th EVENT 18:00 – 20:00

Talk Series: “The Adventure of Consciousness: Science – Art – Spirituality”

Moderator: Vassilis Adrahtas | Head of Hellenic Studies – UNSW, General Director of Actions & Programs – Unity in Philia

Talks :

Human and Cosmos: science as path to self-knowledge | Dr. Alexandros Antoniadis-Karnavas (Doctor of Astrophysics – University of Porto, Research & Development Advisor – Unity in Philia)
The transformations of consciousness in art: from spiritual vision to the networked mind | Dr. Eleni Gemtou (Associate Professor – Department of History and Philosophy of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
Post-virtual: artificial intelligence, photography and spirituality of the self | Dimitris Bekridakis (Teacher, Theologian – MA in Religious Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
Art as individual and collective therapy | Dr. Dimosthenis Davvetas (Professor of Philosophy – Institut d’études supérieures des arts Paris, Writer, Artist)
Spiritual work as a foundation for the modern creator | Freideriki Papastavropoulou (Artist – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Representative of the Art of Life Collective)