Athens’ Mayor Sparks Controversy Projecting Greek Flag in Pink

The mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, decided to project an artwork of a Greek flag in pink colors on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Friday.

A few months ago, the flag had been exhibited in the Consulate General of Greece in New York. This caused anger in the Greek government, with Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis ordering the artwork to be withdrawn.

As part of the City of Athens’ actions titled “Knowing from the Edge: On International Women’s Day we talk about gender-based violence,” a projection of Lale’s “pink flag” covered the facade of City Hall, using 3D projection mapping technology.

Αυτό το αίσχος δεν είναι για να καμαρώνουμε. Το Δημαρχείο δεν είναι το σαλόνι της κας Λαλέ και του κ. Δούκα. Η Ροζ Σημαία αποτελεί εξευτελισμό του εθνικού συμβόλου και της γυναίκας. Ντροπή πια! #Ημερα_της_Γυναικας pic.twitter.com/o8XN9ylK7s

— Ελένη Παπαδοπούλου – Δημοτική Σύμβουλος (@i_athina_mas) March 9, 2024

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, the City of Athens has organized actions at the Technopolis venue of the Municipality of Athens. The left-wing mayor aims to strengthen women’s voices and address the alarmingly increasing phenomenon of gender-based violence in the country.

The piece, that has been created by artist Georgia Lale, was exhibited to highlight the issue of femicide and domestic violence in Greece. With this work, the consulate had said that the artist raises awareness through her handmade flag weaved from bedsheets donated to her by abused women.

However, right-wing politicians in Greece perceived this artwork as a gesture of disrespect to the national symbol of Greece.

Η Διεθνής Ημέρα των Γυναικών αποτελεί μία πολύτιμη ευκαιρία για να ενώσουμε τις φωνές μας ενάντια στην έμφυλη βία. https://t.co/RnSP7ME6q8 pic.twitter.com/ihzt7YfrBX

— Haris Doukas (@h_doukas) March 8, 2024

“This work of art is created from sheets donated by women living in Greece. These women seemingly have little in common, but they are all lying on these sheets desperate and scared,” said the description of Georgia Lale’s exhibition in New York in December.

Lale’s artwork continues to cause controversy, as it has become a hot topic of opposing views about the way artists are allowed to express their creativity.

Greece has recently seen a rise in reported femicides. The issue of domestic violence has become more prominent in Greek news with many women now reporting incidents of domestic violence to the police.

This unfortunate surge even motivated Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to interview a female victim of domestic violence a few months ago in an attempt to raise awareness.

The ”pink flag” controversy in New York

The issue at the consulate was initially raised in the Greek Parliament by the head of the far-right “Niki” party, Dimitris Natsios.

Natsios had pointed out that “this rag was presented to the Greek Consulate General as our flag. The only color that blue and white accepts is red from the blood of our heroes,” he had said.

Main opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis had blasted the government for giving in to the extreme right. “Art is even allowed to ‘play’ with the colors of national symbols when it wants to convey a message—from its opposition to racism to domestic violence,” the left-wing leader had told media.

“I don’t expect Mr. Gerapetritis to appreciate art, but at least he should leave it alone,” Kasselakis had commented.