Digital Presentation of the Nikos Engonopoulos Archive
Digital Promotion of the Nikos Engonopoulos Archive: Creating a Modern Digital Archive
Zubko Anna
Panteion 2025
Introduction
With the continuous development of digital technologies, the need to preserve and promote cultural heritage in the digital space is becoming increasingly urgent (Müller, 2021). The archive of Nikos Engonopoulos, one of the most important representatives of Greek surrealism, is a valuable source of artistic and literary memory of the 20th century. Its digitization allows for wider access, both by the general public and the scientific community, enhancing its sustainable management and ensuring its long-term visibility.
This study focuses on the design and implementation of a digital landing page platform (https://nikosengonopoulos.tilda.ws), which functions as a modern digital archive. The aim is to create a flexible and functional infrastructure, which gathers and presents multimedia material related to the artist — such as manuscripts, visual works, photographs, audio documents, scientific studies and testimonies from individuals who contributed to the establishment of the archive.
The material comes from the Engonopoulos physical archive, which was delivered to the Archart research group in 2024 and includes 6,775 documents, 315 photographs, 2,369 slides, theatrical programs, archival audiovisual material (VHS, MiniDV, DV8), posters, personal items and a library with rare editions. The archive has been organized into seven series (Texts, Visual Works, Notebooks, Official Documents, Correspondence, Audiovisual Material, Library) maintaining the thematic and chronological classification of the original producer.
The digital approach was designed according to the principles of digital storytelling and accessibility. As stated by Vrettakis et al. (2019), storytelling is a key tool in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. For this reason, each section of the platform is designed as an autonomous narrative, with an aesthetic style that refers to Engonopoulos’ work. The design was based on a minimal color palette (neutral gray, off-white, touches of ochre), discreet typography and a clean content layout. These elements not only highlight the artistic depth of the material, but also ensure a comfortable user experience (UX) on different devices.
The choice of the Tilda platform allowed for the rapid development of the website, with possibilities for integrating multimedia tools (photo slideshows, audio recordings, videos, interactive fields). This also confirms the position of Palfrey and Gasser (2016), who argue that younger generations (born digital) acquire cultural content through multimodal and participatory means. The platform, therefore, functions not only as a database but also as an open tool for cultural and scientific interconnection.
In conclusion, the creation of Nikos Engonopoulos’ digital archive is an example of the application of modern practices of documentation and digital cultural communication. It enhances the dynamics of cultural heritage in the new era, offering an accessible, documented and aesthetically harmonized environment for every interested party.
Theoretical and Methodological Framework
Digital Archives and Preservation of Cultural Memory
The preservation of cultural heritage is a key axis of modern cultural policies. In the digital environment, digital archives are not limited to preserving valuable material, but also function as channels of expanded public access and participation (Müller, 2021).
Especially in the field of visual arts and poetic production, digital archives offer a modern way of rescuing both visual and literary forms of expression. They are not limited to a storage role, but emerge as active mediators between past and present — encouraging research and educational initiatives.
Landing Page as a Form of Digital Presentation
The landing page is a modern and flexible tool for presenting cultural content. It allows for the audiovisual presentation of archival material, with a clear structure and easy navigation. Thanks to its design, it leads the user to a linear experience — from the first contact to the deepening.
At the same time, it offers the possibility of dynamic renewal and connection with other media, such as social networks or email marketing. Thus, it can be an interactive and versatile platform for the interconnection of cultural content and audience (Palfrey & Gasser, 2016).
Digital Storytelling and Participation
The use of narrative techniques in digital documentation enhances the emotional and intellectual engagement of the audience. Digital storytelling gives life to the documents, placing them in a historical and personal context (Vrettakis et al., 2019).
Through narration, the material is transformed into an experience — provoking identification, interest and dialogue. Particularly in the case of the Nikos Engonopoulos Archive, the use of narrative helps to highlight his multifaceted artistic identity, enhancing the pedagogical and cultural value of the archive.
Application Description
This digital application, which was implemented as a landing page through the Tilda platform, constitutes a modern, functionally efficient digital archive dedicated to the study and promotion of Nikos Engonopoulos. The application has been designed to function as a tool for cultural preservation, while at the same time providing access to both the scientific community and the general public.
Structure and Content of the Application
The structure of the platform is organized into distinct, vertical sections that follow a narrative flow, as follows:
Introduction to the project: Presentation of the initiative and the digital archive, as well as the role of the artist’s family and the research team.
Artist's biography: Detailed account of the life and work of Nikos Engonopoulos, with particular emphasis on his contribution to Greek surrealism.
The archive: Content and structure: Description of the seven thematic series of the physical archive (Texts, Visual Arts, Notebooks, Official Documents, Correspondence, Audiovisual Material, Library), which have been partially digitized and are presented visually.
Visual material and objects: Presentation of photographs of manuscripts, works of art, personal belongings and publication covers.
Upcoming additions: Announcement of future enrichment of the platform with presentations, scientific articles and references to collaborating individuals who participated in the documentation and editing of the archive.
Visual Identity and Aesthetic Choice
The choice of the Tilda platform was based on the flexibility of design and the integration of multimedia tools that support the narrative. The color palette (gray, ochre, off-white) refers to the aesthetics of hyperrealism, while maintaining a soft and simple appearance. The typography is clean and discreet, avoiding visual overload. The design emphasizes clarity, simplicity and the highlighting of the content.
Technical Functions and Multimedia
The platform supports modern multimedia tools, such as image presentation systems (slideshow), video and audio integration, responsive design for mobile devices and interactive navigation areas. The use of these functions enhances the user's narrative experience and is in harmony with the principles of digital storytelling (Vrettakis et al., 2019).
Benefits for the Archive and the Public
The implementation of this digital platform contributes to ensuring broad and easy access to the archive, enhances the cultural visibility of Engonopoulos' work, facilitates the participation of new user communities and creates opportunities for collaboration with museums, libraries and research or educational institutions.
Creative Process
The implementation of Nikos Engonopoulos' digital archive as a dynamic landing page was a complex process that combined theoretical knowledge, artistic sensitivity and technical skill. The development of the application was based on principles of modern digital design, aiming at the holistic presentation and experiential reading of the archive by the user. The creative process evolved in multiple stages, which included pre-processing, technical implementation, aesthetic integration and testing of the final user experience (user experience testing).
Stage 1: Research and Documentation
During the initial phase of the project, a detailed research was carried out on the physical archive of Nikos Engonopoulos. The research focused on the categorization of the material (manuscripts, drawings, notes, letters, photographs), with the aim of proper archiving and structural transfer of the content to a digital environment.
In addition, models and good practices from existing digital cultural archives, such as Europeana, the Cavafy Digital Archive and the Google Arts & Culture platform, were studied in order to form a framework of functionality and structure. Particular attention was paid to the theory of digital storytelling, as well as to the principles of cultural digital mediation (Giaccardi, 2012).
Stage 2: Platform Selection and Technical Implementation
The choice of the Tilda platform was based on the need for an ergonomic, flexible and aesthetically friendly digital space, which supports multimedia content without the requirement of complex coding. Tilda offers “modular blocks” tools, which allow the creation of vertical modules, adapted to the narrative structure required by the presentation of archives and works of art.
The technical implementation includes the following steps:
● Creation of an initial information architecture
● Development of wireframes for each module
● Uploading multimedia material (images, manuscripts, covers)
●Linking text to documentation and visual storytelling
● Optimization for mobile devices (responsive design)
Basic UX/UI principles were applied to ensure usability, navigation without cognitive load and the overall aesthetic harmony of the digital archive.
Stage 3: Aesthetic Strategy and Visual Identity
The choice of color palette and typographic elements was made with reference to Engonopoulos’ artistic identity. Bright colors and digital textures that would overshadow the content were avoided. The aesthetic logic was based on the concept of “digital silence”, where the simplicity of the environment enhances the presence of the cultural object.
Shades of gray, ochre and off-white were chosen, which are associated with the modern movement and surrealism. The use of serif fonts for the main texts enhanced the timelessness of the content, while simple sans-serif fonts were used for the menus and headings, adding clarity and modernity.
Stage 4: Usability Testing and Optimization
The final phase included navigation tests aimed at optimizing the user experience. Users of different age groups and educational backgrounds were invited to browse the platform and evaluate accessibility, information and aesthetic performance.
Based on the feedback, targeted interventions were made in places where there were information gaps or compatibility problems with mobile devices. These interventions enhanced the interactivity and navigability of the digital archive.
Concluding Elements of the Creative Experience
The creative process that was followed highlighted the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach, combining archival science, digital content design and aesthetic theory. Technology functions not only as a tool for dissemination, but also as a means of interpretation and new reading of cultural heritage.
The composition of such a project requires detailed documentation, design consistency and constant vigilance towards the needs of the public and the scientific community. The final platform is not simply a digital imprint of the material, but a living narrative, capable of being enriched and evolving.
Conclusions
The present study highlighted the value of digital archives as tools for the preservation, promotion and interpretation of cultural heritage, starting with the creation of a modern digital archive dedicated to Nikos Engonopoulos. The composition of the project confirms that the use of digital technologies is not simply a practical way of archiving, but a strategic choice of cultural management, capable of bridging the past with the present and re-introducing artistic material to the contemporary audience.
The design and implementation process highlighted the importance of structured storytelling, visual consistency and technical flexibility. The use of the Tilda platform provides the tools for a friendly and functional user experience, while the aesthetic strategy strengthened the artistic identity of the archive. At the same time, the choice of the landing page format facilitated the creation of a centralized and narrative structure, focusing on the experiential access to the content.
During the implementation, it was found that the documentation of an archive is not limited to the transfer of content, but requires interpretation, selection, composition and aesthetic judgment. The holistic approach to the material enhanced the understanding of the cultural and historical significance of Engonopoulos’ work, while at the same time highlighting the potential of collaboration between researchers, content creators and the artist’s family.
Finally, it is found that such digital initiatives not only contribute to cultural preservation, but can also function as a springboard for new forms of scientific and educational exploitation. The development of the digital archive is not a closed or static project, but an open and evolving platform, which can be constantly enriched with new sources, studies and narratives.
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