THEODORA KOUMOUNDOUROU PRESENTS “ESCAPISM” AT S.G. ART GALLERY, ST GEORGE LYCABETTUS HOTEL

Escaping reality is an innate urge within all of us—a universal need that compels us to either renew ourselves or escape our emotions. Seeking refuge in a new environment as a coping mechanism is as old as time itself.

One of the most common forms of escape is travel, and by extension, checking into a hotel. The unfamiliar setting, the scent of the room, the crisp touch of fresh linens, the flickering of random television channels, the ritual of getting dressed in front of a new mirror, ordering room service—all these sensory experiences are activated by new stimuli. For a few fleeting hours or days, the mind and body exist “elsewhere.”

A hotel room is constantly occupied, yet it remains nearly identical on every floor of the building. Even so, it undergoes a subtle transformation each time a new guest steps inside. I have always been captivated by hotel rooms—by the almost mystical aura that emerges when they are inhabited. As I walk down the suspiciously quiet corridors, curiosity overtakes me. What is happening behind those doors? Who is staying there this time? What are their habits? Do they sleep with the television on? Did they unpack their suitcase the moment they arrived, or do their clothes remain untouched inside? Are they having an affair? Did they indulge in the minibar? Will they be sad to leave, or are they counting down the moments until they return home?