In the heart of Athens this July, myth will meet memory once more as Melbourne-born candle and fragrance brand Thematikos returns to the Psyrri district for its second immersive exhibition.
Running from July 14 to 28 at Art Number 23 Gallery, this new chapter brings to life the divine twins of ancient mythology, Artemis and Apollo, through scent, art, and ancestral storytelling.
Following a successful Easter debut that centred on the myth of Hades and Persephone, Thematikos now invites audiences to experience a multi-sensory journey through new artworks and fragrances, crafted to awaken the senses and honour Hellenic heritage.
At the helm is Melbourne-based founder Con Panagiotopoulos, one half of the mother-and-son duo behind Thematikos, which he co-founded with his mother Nicole during Melbourne’s 2020 lockdown.
“For me, scent is memory. A single smell can take you back to another place, another time,” Pana says.
That sensorial nostalgia became the foundation of the brand. Thematikos, drawn from the Greek word for thematic, was built on the idea of creating fragrances tied to deeper meanings. Each candle or perfume is shaped not only by place and mood but by the desire to stir memory, story, and embodied presence.
“Fragrance has always been a dream for us, and we’ve slowly started blending our own. Each perfume is tied to a myth, a god or goddess, and becomes part of a larger story. We collaborate with visual artists to bring the whole narrative to life—it’s about creating a multi-sensory experience where scent carries meaning.”
This season in Athens, Con returns to the motherland in collaboration with Greek-Italian-Australian artist Anthony Tartaglia.
“We’re creating a space where people don’t just look at art,” Pana tells Neos Kosmos.
“They feel it in their body. Scent triggers something primal and awakens memory.”
Each Thematikos fragrance is approached like a character, the founder explains.
“Apollo is bright and solar, citrusy and bold. Artemis is moody and green. They’re meant to feel like people you could meet,” Con explains. The perfumes are not just for sale… they’re part of a curated environment, woven into visual artworks and installations that invite audiences to feel myth with their whole bodies.”
For him and his mother, Thematikos is also a deeply personal act of return.
“To present this in Greece, to have our aunties and yiayiás come and see it in person, not just look at it online through a screen, it’s grounding,” Pana reflects.
“This work lets us reconnect with our roots in a way that’s both creative and embodied.”
The first exhibition featured acclaimed Sydney artist George Raftopoulos, and it was quite successful garnering a lot of attention and interest form the Athenian crowds as well as international visitors.
Recently, Thematikos travelled to New York with with ODYSSEY, another exhibition inspired by the migrant journeys of his grandparents: Konstantinos, Christina, Konstantinos and Panagiota.
“The meditative amber-oriental scent honours their sacrifices and the quiet strength of those who left everything behind in pursuit of something more,” Pana added.
“It’s a vessel for honouring the past, and what it took to get us here.”The current chapter in Athens will see new visual works in conversation with scent, while a third instalment, has been planned for December in Melbourne, to showcase a yet-to-be-announced Greek artist.
With all these collaborations, travels and interactive installations Pana seeks to divert from the digital distractions and invite people to pause and remember who they are at the root.
When: 14-28 July
Where: Art Number 23 Gallery, Dim. Eginitou 8, Athens, Greece
