The Onassis Foundation Opens New Open-Air Arts Space In Athens
The Onassis Foundation unveils Onassis Mandra, a restored Belle Époque theatre in Athens, with Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s immersive sound installation

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, clinamen at Onassis Mandra Photo: Giagkos Papadopoulos for Onassis Stegi
The Onassis Foundation has inaugurated its 2026/2027 season with the opening of a new space in the Greek capital. Located in Athens’ Plaka district, Onassis Mandra is an open-air theatre first built in 1909, in the typical Belle Époque style of the time. Recently restored, it is set to host a programme of performances and cultural events, bringing new life to a historic corner of the city.
The venue’s opening is marked by clinamen, an installation by French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot. Hundreds of white porcelain bowls float across three pools at the entrance of the theatre, gently colliding to produce delicate, unpredictable chimes. The work blends Athens’ natural elements and urban sounds, creating an immersive encounter between art, architecture and the surrounding nature. This is the first iteration of clinamen being shown outside after traveling at the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection in Paris and New York’s Park Avenue Armory.
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