Virginie + Manthos how you ended to live in Tinos and which is your life story and the highlights of your career
Virginie: I am French-Belgian. In Paris for 20 years, I worked in an event company for luxury brands as an artistic director, event organizer and sound designer, translating the various universes of our clients into scenography and events that I direct and produce from start to finish. Later on I create a fashion brand and my own artistic direction company. Becoming a mum, I had a strong feeling that I needed to leave Paris. I suggested to Manthos that we move back to Greece, and eventually to Tinos, where he was born.
Manthos: I born in Tinos and early age I moved to Athens. In my 20s I moved to Norway for few years and in my late 30s in Paris for a decade. I worked in Athens, Paris, NYC , LA and London always for fashion, design & art projects.
It’s my professional passionate life journey. My Ithaca.
Tinos is a unique island with artistic aura, amazing handcrafted landscape, creatively powerful wind, blue sky and sea. Such a fortune to offer & share with our new born daughter.
These are few of the reasons that we ended in Tinos.
In Athens I work as a Visual merchandiser and creative director curating art and design for hospitality and luxury spaces.
You created a gem, a landmark for Tinos. What is the story behind Taxidi? How did the idea came and what are the defining features that shape its identity?
We never actually planned to create Taxidi. We found the place almost by accident, and very quickly it became obvious that this was what we were meant to do.
We had both left Paris without a plan, just before Covid, and were starting our lives again from scratch with a newborn. Taxidi emerged organically and became an extension of everything we had experienced and loved throughout our professional lives: incentive and receptive, retail, artistic direction, fashion and art.
We simply put our heart and energy into sharing what we love.
We are always there and we welcome people, we embody the identity of the place. It’s a human journey more than anything.
What were the greatest challenges you faced throughout the project, and what was the design philosophy that guided you?
The greatest challenge was simply making it happen. The place had been abandoned, and we were certainly not in a position to build something like this — but somehow, we did.
We did not follow a specific design philosophy. We simply followed what felt right to us, according to our own vision, while remaining respectful of what the place had been in the past.
When it comes to our selection, what matters most to us is following a Mediterranean aesthetic and, whenever possible, presenting exclusive pieces. We work hard to remain singular, although perhaps this is one of the greatest challenges of our time.
This year you are celebrating 4 years of a fabulous Taxidi. What do you keep in your heart as the most important things of this journey?
The most important thing for us is the friendships we have built over the years — with our team, the artists, and, of course, our clients. Our priority was always to create a place where people could meet and connect, while allowing us to share the things we love.
What unique experiences do you offer to your guests and how do they react?
The feeling of being home and cozy, the experience of discovering artworks, books, fashion- lifestyle brands, artisans, the slowness of the Cycladic rhythm having a coffee or a mini breakfast is what Taxidi offers.
The guests are getting all these or part of what we offer. They feel that they are part of a community that have common interests for art, books, fashion or just a simple quality coffee break on a quiet environment.
How can a guest discover expressions of Greece’s authenticity and cultural identity?
We are a mixed couple, we come from different cultures and backgrounds. We have travelled extensively and are both very open-minded. At Taxidi, we try to share these experiences through an aesthetic that remains rooted in the Mediterranean as our guiding thread.
We do not exclusively present Greek artists. We enjoy introducing a new vision to local people and to Greeks who visit us, while also introducing Greek artists to our international clientele.
What makes Taxidi is precisely this combination — and the identity we bring to it. It is an honest reflection of who we are and of everything that has shaped us.
Which collaborations have proved to be the most rewarding, and which have evolved into lasting values?
All of our collaborations are equally important to us. We always try to build long-term relationships.
We enjoy following the artists we work with and presenting new pieces by them each season. We also try to develop specially curated pieces exclusively for Taxidi.
Another thing that matters to us is avoiding artists whose work can be found everywhere, presented in exactly the same way. We strongly believe that this diminishes the value of a piece and goes against what we are trying to defend: singularity and the idea of something truly one of a kind.
Which artists have contributed to your project and in what ways?
They all have, in their own way. But of course, the artists we presented during our first season were particularly important because they were the ones who trusted us from the very beginning. Without them, Taxidi would not be what it is today.
Most of them have been friends of ours for many years. A few did not know us personally and were at the very beginning of their creative process, we helped them to be seen and they allowed us to show our vision. Most are still with us today, and some work with us exclusively.
Back in 2022, we were very grateful to work with Christiana Soulou, Annabelle Jouot, Mylene Jampanoi, Kalou Dubus, Diane Alexandre, Mara Desipris, Kalodromo, Melina Xenaki and Greece Is For Lovers.
Has the final result fulfilled your vision? Is it everything you imagined when you first conceived the project?
Not at all — and in a way, that is what makes it exciting.
Our original dream was to create a place where artists could connect with children and adults through workshops, experiences and conversations. Something closer to an artistic residency, but one centred around human connection.
We love the idea that sharing passions can open up new paths. We do whatever we can to pursue this vision by organising workshops, exhibition, concerts, dinner, and anything else that feels meaningful.
Our network, both from the past and the present, is incredibly rich, and we believe it is powerful to share the talent that surrounds us. Giving people access to different passions is, for us, a way of awakening creativity.
We have simply realised that, for now, we are too small to focus on every aspect we are passionate about. But the dream is still very much alive in our minds.
At the same time, we have developed other aspects that we had not initially anticipated but that we genuinely enjoy: participating in Art Athina as a design gallery, as well as working on interior design and art curation projects.
What are Taxidi’s most distinctive qualities—the rare attributes that define its unique character?
This is probably something we cannot identify ourselves.
Personally, we believe that Taxidi’s unique character comes from the fact that it is, in every detail, an extension of who we are.
Taxidi is also a place where you can simply come for a coffee, buy a book, small gift, or discover an artwork. We want everyone to be able to find something that speaks to them.
Why did you choose Tinos and what makes the island unique in your eyes?
Manthos was born in Kardiani and lived there until he was six, before moving to Athens.
We wanted to offer our daughter the same kind of luxury: the freedom to grow up surrounded by this landscape and warmness. We made what felt like the craziest decision — leaving everything behind — and here we are.
We wanted her to grow up looking at the same blue horizon that has always defined the Greek islands: that endless line separating the sea from the sky.
Which are your best in the island?
Elayio Beach House,
To Thalassaki
Svoura
Kounaria
Kohili
Ursulines museum
Chalepas home & museum
Koumelas
What other projects and future plans are currently on the horizon?
Art Athina 2026 in November
Curated art & interior projects for homes & hospitality
How do you envision Taxidi ten years from now?
Taxidi could evolve in many different directions, but one thing is certain: for the time being, it will remain a place in Tinos.
Do you believe Art and Design have the power to elevate everyday life and enhance our well-being?
Absolutely.
If you allow yourself to choose a piece because of the emotion it evokes in you and the memories it will bring back, then it will always have the power to elevate your everyday life and enhance your well-being.
And perhaps even more importantly, it becomes something you can pass on to the next generation who will inherit it.
Is creativity a way for having a better life? Do you create things?
What do you love doing the most?
We believe it is. But creativity can take many different forms.
We do not create works of art ourselves, but we create Taxidi.
What we love most is simply sharing what we love. It’s the Alegria of life.
What is your personal definition of beauty?
Authenticity.
What does authenticity mean to you today?
Authenticity is the core value behind being — or creating — something truly unique.
It means everything.
Showing up as your real, honest self, and allowing your true identity to be seen through the choices you make and the things you create, is the starting point for creating something that can genuinely make a difference.
