The Old Women Who Gather Chamomile explores the intimate rituals of aging, memory, and care through the recurring image of old women gathering chamomile. Inspired by personal and collective histories, it weaves together scenes of rural tenderness, urban dislocation, and technological intrusion.
The work reflects on how time bends—how gestures of healing and remembrance persist across generations, even as algorithms fail to recognize our humanity. It is a meditation on listening to the earth, honoring maternal voices, and reclaiming softness in a world that often cuts too sharply.
The project is part of the subthemes Writing After – Catastrophe, Memory, and the Archive of Loss, Disrupted Realities – Poetry and the Politics of Truth, Unruly Forms – Experiments in the Poetic Wild.
Author
Elle Papadopoulou
Elle Papadopoulou is a philologist, cultural activities facilitator, performer, and writer based in Greece. Her work is deeply inspired by the landscapes, traditions, and stories of her country, which she transforms into literary and artistic expressions. Through her performances and cultural projects, she aims to create meaningful connections between people and the arts, while her writing reflects her engagement with contemporary Greek experience.
