The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in Athens is participating for the third consecutive year in the international Slow Art Day initiative and welcomes you to Slow Art Day 2026 on Holy Saturday, April 11.

Slow Art Day is a global event with a simple mission: to help as many people as possible discover the importance and joy of slow observation of artwork. Officially launched in 2010, Slow Art Day has since become an integral part of the international museum and gallery calendar, with over 1,500 events taking place worldwide—including in Antarctica.

People of all ages are encouraged, by following a few simple steps outlined below, to slow down their approach to viewing art and, through this process, experience a powerful and potentially new way of engaging with it. Just a few extra minutes of contemplation in front of an artwork can allow us to truly connect with and understand it better, while also serving as a great starting point for interesting and meaningful discussions with friends.

Experience Slow Art Day in the permanent Collection of the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation and explore the specially marked artworks by following the steps below.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Look for the Slow Art Day 2026 sign to identify the selected artworks in the exhibition spaces.

• Spend five minutes slowly observing each piece, in any order you choose.

• If needed, you may collect a stool from the Foundation’s entrance.

• Observe each artwork from a distance to take in the whole composition.

• Take three deep breaths.

• Relax and soften your gaze.

• Relax your face, your neck, your shoulders.

• When you feel ready, let your eyes slowly wander across the surface of each artwork, following its natural course. Each work is accompanied by a mindfulness question, that acts as a starting point for observation and contemplation.

• A blank space is available on the back cover of the booklet, and pencils are provided at the Foundation’s Reception should you wish to take notes, write a poem or a song, or even make a drawing.

• Once you have completed your experience, discuss it and share it with friends.

• Try to integrate this experience and the emotions it brought into the rest of your day.

• We invite you to share your experience on social media using the hashtags #SlowArtDay, #BEGoulandrisFoundation.

1st floor

Tripod censer
China, Qing dynasty, probably Qianlong reign (1736-1795)

Take a few moments to focus on the form, the texture of the material and the sensation of the scent—real or imagined—spreading through the space.

2nd floor

Nisa Chevenement
The Great Book of Time
2000

Observe the frontal vertical forms, the texture, the deep cavities and openings of the work, as well as its earthy monochromatic tones and allow your breathing to synchronise with this silent balance between mass and void.

3rd floor

Spyros Vassiliou
An Azure Day
1977

I breathe. I let go. I grow still. Within the emptiness of the composition, in the silent presence of the forms, in the blue of silence, I allow my mind to quieten and simply exist.

4th floor

Demosthenes Kokkinidis
Demonstration
1980

For a few minutes, allow the noise of the scene to settle within you. Observe the forms and lines calmly and listen to your own inner pulse through steady, conscious breathing.

Slow Art Day 2026 at the B&E Goulandris Foundation is overseen by art historian, art educator and mindfulness instructor Lydia Petropoulou, who also organises the specially designed programme “Mindfulness at the Museum”.

The “Mindfulness at the Museum” experience helps participants become active, mindful observers, encouraging them to draw meaning from what they see and feel, rather than relying solely on pre-existing knowledge about an artwork or object. At the same time, they benefit from mindfulness techniques such as improved focus and concentration, enhanced memory, stress reduction and emotional balance. By focusing on the present moment, this meditative journey strengthens connections between the observer and the artwork, allowing for a truly holistic experience.

After completing your Slow Art Day experience, we encourage you to discuss and share your thoughts with friends. The B&E Goulandris Foundation also invites you to share your experience on social media using the hashtags #SlowArtDay, #BEGoulandrisFoundation