A new exhibition opening in Kew this June is offering a different way into one of history’s most enduring stories. As filmmaker Christopher Nolan prepares his own take on The Odyssey, Greek Australian artist Efrossini Chaniotis is presenting ODYSSEY, a body of work that shifts the focus from Odysseus to Penelope.
Set to open at Ladder Art Space Gallery, the exhibition brings together narrative paintings and sculptural works that explore the myth from a less familiar angle. Rather than centring the hero’s journey alone, Chaniotis draws attention to the parallel experiences unfolding at home, positioning Penelope as an active force within the story.
“Rather than the loyal wife waiting at home, Penelope becomes an active presence whose experiences and choices shape the journey itself.” Chaniotis says. “It’s about reclaiming the inner journey behind the myth.”
The works draw on the legacy of Homer while also challenging it, presenting the story as something more layered than conquest and return. Chaniotis leans into themes of connection and transformation, suggesting that the myth is shaped as much by internal change as it is by external action.
Through this lens, ODYSSEY becomes less about a single hero and more about shared experience. Ideas of identity, resilience and homecoming run throughout, with “home” framed as something fluid rather than fixed.
The timing of the exhibition also reflects a broader interest in revisiting classical narratives through contemporary perspectives. By focusing on overlooked voices, Chaniotis invites viewers to reconsider how these stories continue to influence ideas of power and relationship today.
ODYSSEY opens Friday 5 June from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Ladder Art Space Gallery in Kew.
