Continuing her studies on remote marble quarries, Natacha Mankowski's (Paris, FR, 1986) new series of paintings, "Ritsona," focuses on a twin quarry located north of Athens—the Ritsona quarries. The name "Ritsona" is believed to derive from resin, referencing the abundant pine trees that once populated the area. The current quarries were established in 1969 and extract various marble types, ranging from dark red to gray with hints of gold. The series will be on view at the Copenhagen Art Fair Enter, from August 29 September 1.

The Mykalissos Red marble extracted from the quarry resembles the famous marble from ancient times: Rosso Di Eretria. It gets its name from the ancient city of Eretria, where only the remains of the port and acropolis are visible today. The presence of ancient quarries confirms that this rock had widespread use during the Archaic and Byzantine times as an ornamental material for temples and buildings.

After researching the quarry site and its surroundings, Mankowski initiated her characteristic working process. She collected souvenirs from the ground, including pieces of marble, pine cones, stones, and other archaeological finds. Back in her studio, Mankowski created her own oil pastels with these souvenirs, which can be used as paint or molded as clay on her panels. They resemble bird's eye views and cross-sections of the quarry and the surrounding area of Ritsona.

The quarries supplying these materials prompt challenging inquiries into the commodification of nature, a process yielding urban development while simultaneously instigating ecological degradation. This exhibition seeks to underscore that achieving ecological harmony is not merely an abstract idea but requires a daily commitment of research and action.