- Fashionable face masks
A-masks from the island of Amorgos, one of the most scenic islands of the Aegean, manage to combine function and fashion. Created by the Giannakopoulos family, already active in the tourism sector for the last three decades thanks to their ownership of Aegialis Hotel & Spa, the family changed its focus from tourism to fashion by assisting in the emerging scarcity of face masks. The masks they create are reusable, hence also environmentally-friendly, and of the highest comfort and quality. They are 100 per cent cotton and also hypoallergenic. They come in all sizes from kids to adults, have adjustable ear straps and nose strips with a tighter seal to offer greater protection. The shapes and designs are cheerful with their blue seas and pineapple patterns. See more at https://a-mask.com/
2. Graffiti
Graffiti art as a form of expression has always been alive and well in Greece, so – naturally – there would be artists using their talent to express their views on the coronavirus. Teen graffiti artist SF, aged 16, created an impressive work on the rooftop of his Athens apartment while the city was in lockdown. The work was featured in newspaper articles around the world as a symbol of self-isolation. Young SF told the media that he has been creating street art since 2011 with all his allowance going towards the purchase of supplies.
3. Music
Greek musicians and artists, much like other performers around the world, have used their creativity to persuade people to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.The musicians have been sharing their version of the song “I’m staying home” by the late Loukianos Kilaidonis on their personal social media accounts. The lyrics have been altered to reflect the current affairs and issues the world is facing with the coronavirus. The song titled “I’m staying home 2020” was created by participating artists associated with MINOS-EMI SA, a Universal Music Group Company, which granted the rights to the voice of Loukianos Kelaidonis. All proceeds made from the song will be donated directly to the Ministry of Health to help fight the coronavirus. Soloists from the Greek National Opera have also been singing their rendition from home in their own video. The song was released under the initiative of WALNUT Entertainment.
4. Photography
Costa Georgiadis wants kids across Australia cooped up at home to grab a camera or mobile device to snap photos of what’s in their backyard. Joining forces with Junior Landcare, the popular TV star and Landcare champion launched the ‘What’s In Your Backyard?’ campaign to encourage the next generation to get into their backyard, onto their balcony or even look outside their window to see the amazing flora and fauna right on their doorstep. Kids can submit photos to Junior Landcare and tell us why the photo is important to them to be in with a chance to win one of ten $250 cameras. When conditions allow, the major school prize will be a visit from Costa to check out the school’s environment projects. Closing date is 1 May. Logging onto juniorlandcare.org.au, photo competition entrants simply select one of the four categories in biodiversity, food production, Indigenous perspectives and waste management and tell us why it is important to them.
5. Virtual museum tours
Take a virtual wander through ancient Greece with the Benaki Museum’s 360-degree tour or visit the Parthenon Marbles at the British Museum. It’s easy to get lost in the unrivalled collection of artefacts from museums around the world competing for virtual audiences by amping their digital offerings. And if you’ve had enough high-brow culture, you can visit other museums you didn’t even know existed from the Broken Relationships Museum in LA to
6. Youtubers
Everyone wants to talk about the novel coronavirus outbreak right now, and of course Youtubers cannot help but be impacted by coronavirus. Unlike other Youtubers that avoid the subject in light of the fact that they may risk getting their ads shut off because Youtube has demonitized videos on coronavirus, popular Greek Youtubers like 2J, Manos, Maliatsis and more are focused on the pandemic with countless of videos.
7. Gaming
Video games, once perceived as anti-social, are now a way for communities around the world to have fun and stay connected despite self-isolation and other measures. With time on their hands, people are turning to video games to stave off their feelings of loneliness.
8. Memes
Along with the heartache, there has been plenty of humour to keep morale up. Coronavirus has given rise to memes that have been going viral since the crisis began. They’ve helped to lift our moods and poke fun at the situation every step of the way – from toilet paper hoarding to parents unable to cope with their kids at home to end-of-world jokes. It seems that laughter has always been a cure for every malady. Here are some of our favourite onliners: * Prediction: There will be a baby book in nine months, and then one day in 2033 we will witness the rise of the QUARANTEENS; * Wash your hands like you’re washing Jason Momoa; * When you work with a bank and two guys with a mask come in and they’re just bank robbers.
9. Coronavirus parties
“We stay at home but we are not alone” is the motto a neighbourhood in Palaio Faliro in southern Athens adopted as its own recently when a DJ living in one apartment decided to throw the mother of street parties last Saturday night. Only it all stayed above ground. There were flares, fireworks, air horns, and music blasting through speakers belonging to the DJ who orchestrated the event. In Glyfada on 25 March everyone got out onto their balconies to sing the national anthem. In a state of lockdown neighbours have found a way to communicate, to bond, to share and have fun. And it seems that the world is coming together despite the self-isolation.
10. We’re in this together
At Neos Kosmos, we’re continuing to produce stories and are finding that more readers are also participating with letters to the editor and opinion pieces as a way to keep occupied. We welcome your photos and other contributions. Send these to editor@neoskosmos.com.au