Be Water My Friend

Be Water, My Friend is a public mural depicting the water cycle, as reflected in the environment of the island of Aegina. It was designed by artist Navine G. Dossos and was created by the Vessel collective and the local community of the island, led by the artist Aristeidis Lappas, in January 2024. 

On Wednesday 6th September 2023, Aegina received some of its heaviest rainfall in many years. These rains had a huge impact on the island and caused widespread flooding and damage to homes and properties. More than one metre of rain fell in less that twelve hours - more than anyone on the island can remember in living memory. The rains were sudden and unexpected, necessitating much repair work, rethinking and new planning in response to the floods.

Be Water My Friend is a mural of the water cycle. It is painted in a clear graphic language depicting the geographic features of the Saronic Gulf in a way that will resonate with the children of Aegina. It looks at how water evaporates, makes clouds, and these clouds make rain. We see the Peloponnese to the left, the peninsula of Methana, the islands of Poros, Aegina, Angistri and Salamina in the centre, and the coast of Attica to the right.

It is important that we understand this water system as part of our own local environment. It is something that happens around us and it is something that we are part of. We believe that education and play can happen in harmony and that it is important for children to become aware of how Aegina relies on water, where it comes from and how we can improve our relationship to water usage and our respect for this element of life.

Be Water, My Friend has been kindly supported by EMST – The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens. Photographs and video by Myrto Apostolidou.