The creator: Elli Solomonidou-Balanu, a set designer, costume designer, and illustrator, has made a profound impact on the artistic life and cultural journey of our community.

The work: The de Gaulle Dollhouse, which she began creating at the age of 9 during the Occupation, is a world unto itself. It started on two shelves of a library and, as an artistic imprint of its time, connects reality with the world of play.

“It is an architectural work. The floor plan of a middle-class residence from the belle époque follows the symbolism of comfortable daily life with both horizontal and vertical organization, reflecting social stratification, coexistence of generations, distinct roles. The idea of the dollhouse, as we perceive it from the 17th century onward, is inextricably linked to the ideal image of the ‘house’. This image evokes feelings of safety and familiarity. At the same time, it nurtures the imagination and ensures that the balance between the miniature and the projection of an invented reality is harmonious and effortless. […] What unfolds before our eyes is not merely a beautiful Dollhouse. It is a life’s work.” From the introduction by Nikos Vatopoulos.

The de Gaulle Dollhouse is part of the collections of the Benaki Museum of Toys.