Marble atelier on•entropy presents Opuntia, an in-situ installation unfolding throughout the spaces of the historic Old Carpet Factory on Hydra from 21–24 June 2026. The exhibition features a limited-edition collection of sculptural objects created by the atelier’s founders, Niki and Zoe Moskofoglou.
The collection takes its name from the Latin term for the prickly pear cactus, a plant that has thrived across Mediterranean landscapes for centuries. Its form, organic presence, and remarkable adaptability serve as a point of reference for the atelier’s ongoing exploration of marble.
The coexistence of contrasting qualities within the plant—velvety surfaces and protective thorns, softness and sharpness—reflects on•entropy’s approach to marble as a material rich in sensory complexity. Through the invitation Please Do Touch, the installation encourages visitors to engage with marble beyond its conventional associations, revealing it as a material that is at once rigid and malleable, austere and tactile, cool and luminous.
Set within the historic Old Carpet Factory, renowned for its collection of rare musical instruments and its dedication to analogue methods of music production, the installation introduces another layer to its exploration of opposites. Historically, prickly pear thorns were used as gramophone needles, prized for producing a warmer, softer sound than steel. This curious fact highlights the paradox of a sharp material capable of generating a more harmonious tone.
The resilience of the Opuntia cactus—its ability to regenerate and flourish under challenging conditions—echoes a broader principle that underpins the work of Niki and Zoe Moschofoglou:
“For us, creation is an act of persistence; a way of transforming circumstances and continuously shaping meaning and continuity.”
Developed within the multi-layered architecture of the Old Carpet Factory, Opuntia creates a dialogue between materiality, sensory experience, and enduring forms of resilience.
OPUNTIA — Please Do Touch
Old Carpet Factory, Hydra
21–24 June 2026
About on•entropy
Founded in 2011 by sisters Niki and Zoe Moskofoglou, on•entropy was established as a creative atelier dedicated to exploring the entropy of marble—a concept borrowed from physics that refers to the material’s potential for transformation. Through this exploration, the studio creates objects that balance between art and functionality.
Their passion for marble runs deep. Its scent, colour, and textures have been familiar elements in their lives since childhood, shaped by a family history closely connected to the material.
on•entropy designs furniture, lighting, and sculptural objects that appear ethereal, tactile, and imbued with an inner luminosity. Through their work, they seek to enrich spaces with sensory stimuli, creating objects that interrupt the automatic flow of perception and encourage a more conscious awareness of our surroundings and ourselves.
From the quarry to the workshop, with craftsmanship as a guiding principle, on•entropy oversees every stage of production in Greece, refining both the form and texture of each creation. Niki is an architect, while Zoe is an engineer specialising in cultural heritage. Their fascination with marble stems not only from their family’s long-standing relationship with the material, but also from its multiple—and often contradictory—qualities: it is rigid, heavy, and compact, yet can also be fragile, pliable, and translucent.
All on•entropy pieces are crafted from a single block of marble, without seams or joints. Each creation is unique, as the natural veining and translucency of the stone vary from one piece to another. The studio believes that through our senses we can experience the influence of a material beyond what is immediately visible.
Their work is represented by galleries and museum shops including the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Benaki Museum in Athens, Rossana Orlandi in Milan, Mint in London, and Le Bon Marché in Paris, as well as leading international design platforms such as 1stDibs. They also collaborate with architects and designers on bespoke commissions and special projects, including works for Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens, Mandarin Oriental, the Maximos Mansion, and Somerset House.
