In the famous Hall 18, where the stolen Parthenon marbles are located, the Greek Hellena sang for their return
“Bring them back, as one piece…”
“Bring them back, as one piece, bring them back to Greece… “ is a part only of the lyrics that were heard in the British Museum, in the famous Hall 18, where the Parthenon Marblesare hosted.
The song-message
On June 20th, on the day of the anniversary of 10 years of Operation of Acropolis Museum of Athens, the Greek singer and composer Hellena chose to interpret a capella a symbolic song for the return of the Marbles, sending the message of reunification, in the context of a melodic protest held with the support of The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon marbles. She recited a wonderful melodic song for the return of the Marbles, inside the British Museum!
In a corner of the hall, surrounded by the compositions of the Marbles, she presented for the first time her new song titled «The Marbles of the Parthenon – Bring them back)», a creation of her personal desire and responsibility, as she says, to participate consciously in the struggle of Return of the Sculptures to their place and to emerge as a single work of art.
Artistic protest for sculptures
The artistic protest lasted about an hour and the Greek singer repeated the song ten times -as much as the years of operation of the Acropolis Museum- without a microphone or musical instrument, except with the accompaniment of a recorded piano that sounded from her smartphone’s speaker (!) according to the restrict instructions of the British Museum.
The protest took place in the famous Parthenon Sculpture Hall, with the museum’s permission.
He sang without live music.
“The official justification for banning the use of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, was to not disturb the visitors and have complains” Hellena said, talking to Athens News Agency.
Among the repetitions of her interpretations, she read texts with information about the history of the sculptures and how they have been removed illegaly from their physical space, from Lord Elgin.
“Would you split the Mona Lisa in two?”
Would you ever split the Mona Lisa in two?
“It is a story, a work and must be reunited. Would you divide the Mona Lisa into two pieces? Then why divide the sculptures? “ was saying in front of the British Museum visitors. “Many reasons, under one purpose” was its answer to Athens News Agency for the reasons that led her to the creation of this song, but also to the event of protest within the British Museum. As she explained, it is her own contribution to the struggle of the reunification of the sculptures and voiced hope through the debut of the song and video that promotes to make it known to more people what is happening.
Her Goal
Even to be used by organisations around the world that aim to raising public awareness about the return campaign. “The aim is to strengthen the pressure on the British government to change the law of 1963 that prevents the return of works of art and antiquities to the countries where they belong, but also to the British Museum to accept the return request.” She pointed out.
Helena’s Story
The 33-year-old artist was born and raised in Elassona-Olympos (Greek Municipality of Elassona) and studied classical piano and vocal technic. She moved to London, where she resides in 2011, following her professional career as a singer, songwriter and lyricist, with her own creations and participations in musical scenes of the British capital. For the version of the song “the Parthenon Marbles. Bring them back ‘ had the support of the British and Australian Commission for Reunification.
