This catalog is published on the occasion of the exhibition Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, presented at the Acropolis Museum from May to October 2025. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, the Acropolis Museum, the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, and NEON. It cultivates a rich and meaningful dialogue between contemporary art and ancient objects, presenting the multidimensional work of internationally renowned artist Michael Rakowitz in conversation with objects from the Middle East and the southeastern Mediterranean.

The publication includes photographs of the exhibition installations, as well as essays by its curators, Professor Nikolaos Ch. Stambolidis and Elina Kountouri. It also contains a text by Dr. Kiersten Neumann on Assyrian culture, as well as a conversation between Michael Rakowitz and Elina Kountouri.

Elegantly designed and richly illustrated, the publication offers readers a comprehensive experience of the exhibition. It is a thoughtful companion to the exhibition and a timeless testament to the power of cultural dialogue.

In his introductory note to the publication, NEON Founder Dimitris Daskalopoulos points out: “[…] artist Michael Rakowitz redefines contemporary discourse on both the value and destruction of cultural heritage, as well as on the military, exploitation, and intergenerational consequences of war, creating sites of material history and historical material. Rakowitz’s works meticulously dissect these issues, initiating a dialogue between his own constructions, often made from recycled consumer goods (each with its own history), and objects that have survived from a range of ancient civilizations.”