Back to Athens 11 International Art Meeting 2024: Crossroads - knowledge and worldly pleasures – a review
20 curated exhibitions, installations, performances and screenings, over 190 Greek and international artists, personalities and artwork that spoke last season, outline the dynamics of the contemporary art scene at BtA2024.
Back to Athens 11 International Art Meeting | 2024: Crossroads - knowledge and worldly pleasures – a review Opening date: Wednesday, June 26 Duration: June 26 – 30, 2024 65 Patission & Ioulianou, Athens, 104 33
The multidisciplinary art platform Back to Athens continues its artistic focus on Athens, with this year's edition «Crossroads - knowledge and worldly pleasures – a review» opening at the monumental Isaiah Mansion in the very heart of the city center. Back to Athens is an annual review, an outlook on the recent trends and projects collected from the past year. It profiles the critical issues and current social and artistic transformations that shape our contemporary, everyday culture, functioning a vital tool for the development of dialogue and interaction between artists, the public and locals.
Since 2012, Back to Athens has created a cultural mapping of Athens by re-opening and revisiting important Athenian buildings and distinctive landmarks that are defined by their own cultural and historical heritage. In this context, each year Back to Athens International Art Meeting chooses to visit locations within the Athenian heart that are characterized by a diversity of backgrounds and cultures.
Crossroads - knowledge and worldly pleasures – a review. The unsatisfied nature of man is both a blessing and a curse that leads to acts of recklessness. While it might open the door to innovation and discovery, at the same time it may lead one to experience the depths of their own passions. Like a contemporary Faust, cultured and successful yet dissatisfied with his life, he seeks the impossible: unlimited knowledge, but at the same time, worldly pleasures. At the turning point of youth, he sacrifices spiritual principles for power and wealth. This agreement however pawns any prospect of future change.
To what extent can one sacrifice their ideas to achieve the ideal success? How long can one remain 'privileged' at the 'spear's tip' without evolving? In what circumstances does one loosen their resistance? the chosen path is not the desired, is there room for change? How can one be certain that decisions made today will still be relevant tomorrow?
Back to Athens is organized by APART Art Research and Applications, with the participation of athensintersection and coordinated by CHEAPART. Back to Athens 2024 is supported by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Bundesministerium für Kunst, Kultur, öffentlichen Dienst und Sport -Ministry of Culture of Austria, the Austrian Embassy Athens, the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, akbild, zoia, the Czech Centre Athens in the frame of “Franz Kafka's memorial year 2024”.
Back to Athens 2024 Curators Georg Georgakopoulos, Fotini Kapiris, Christian Rupp
Exhibitions
1st floor
“aurora austrialis” Curated by: Christian Rupp Artists: Tal Adler, Angela Andorrer, OneState Embassy, Ina Loitzl, Christian Rupp, Anna Vasof, Osama Zatar. With kind support of the Austrian Embassy Athens, and malkasten.at
“The Healing will come” Curated by: Dimitris Trikas Artists: Andonis Vasilakis, Sofia Vlachou, Adonis Volanakis, Sofia Damouli Plaini, Mania Benissi, Nana Sachini, Filippos Tsitsopoulos, Giorgos Tserionis, Panos Famelis.
“Purple Letter” (1st) Curated by: Eirini-Maria Nanouri Artists: Ioannis Avgoustis, Thomas Galatos, Athina Kanela, Marilena Kranioti, Sofia Kuriakidou, Kostas Margaritis, Marina Markouli, Christina-Sylvia Simantira, Despoina Vaxevanidi.
Aspa Stasinopoulou (1935-2017): “The Carabinieri” Curated by: Christoforos Marinos
“The Silence of the Sirenes” Curated by: Georg Georgakopoulos Artists: Chloe Akrithaki, Matina Alexiou, Alina Grabovsky, Antonín Jirát, Mariana Jirátová, Ragna Jürgensen, Christina Koutsilioutsou, Bety Krnanska, Miriam Laussegger, Sylvia Schultes, Sascha Alexandra Zaitseva. Screening of the short film: “DOUBLE TRIAL” (1962, 16', Czechoslovakia), director Zdenek Kopac Theatrical performance: “The Silence of the Sirenes”, director Martin Scharnhorst, Maerzbuehne Theatrical Performance: Tasos Sagris, “The Metamorphosis” (Franz Kafka) Performance: Athanasia Tsopanargia, “Fountain”
Xrysanthos Sotiropoulos, "Still Life with Lace” Curated by: Themis Ragias, Sofia Iliana Georgiadi
“After such knowlege, what forgiveness?” Curated by: Leonidas Melissakis Artists: Eleftheria Christaki, Leonidas Melissakis, Pantelis Pantelopoulos
2nd floor
“Sludge pour Sludge” Curated by: Johannes Rips Artists and Talks-Guests: Benedikt Alphart, Adina Camhy, Sof Fachouridou, Paul Feigelfeld, Lars* Kollros, Milena Nowak, Carrot Root, Axel Stockburger, Francisco Valença Vaz.
“... BECAUSE...” intAkt Idea & Concept: Stella Bach Organisation: Elisabeth Hansa, Johanna Tatzgern Video editing: Ilse Chlan Artists: Stella Bach, Christine Baumann, Maria Bergstötter, Julia Bugram, Ilse Chlan, Asta Cink, Isabel Czerwenka-Wenkstetten, Crisfor, Katya Dimova, Lisa EST, Fria Elfen-Frenken, Die 4 Grazien, Elisabeth Hansa, Friederike Hubatschek, Hansi Hubmer, Susanne Kompast, Claudia Kragulij, Rachel Kohn, Leonie Lehner, Mira Laaf, Dora Mai, Karin Mack, Sarah Mang, Anita Münz, Barbara Philipp, Margot Pilz, Agnes Rossa, Susanna Schwarz, starsky, Johanna Tatzgern, Martina Tritthart, Julia Überreiter, Ute Ungar, Linde Waber, Sula Zimmerberger, Zombronner Dorothee, Greta Znojemsky
“Thing” Curated by: Helen Mesadou Artists: Nefeli Chyndiraki, Katerina Digoni, Vicky Filippa, Antigoni Kourakou, Semina Milarokosta, Thasos Tanagias, Amalia Triantafyllou. Performance: Vicky Filippa, “My name is Ori Gin”
“TO LET SO. HAVE IT” Curated by: Flat1- Karin Maria Pfeifer, Sula Zimmerberger Artists: Die 4 Grazien, Ewa Kaja, Ina Loitzl, Christiane Spatt, Karin Maria Pfeifer, Sula Zimmerberger.
“Read the room” Curated by: Antigoni Kapsali Artists: Vasilis Angelopoulos, Alexandra Dalaka, Dimitra Exarchou, Penny Gkeka, karl grümpe & rene p.g, Sofia Kyriakou, Elly Kyriazi, Athanasia Papatzelou, Eleni Sarli, Zoi Seitani, Theodora Tsiatsiou, Vivy Tsiogka, Panagiotis Voulgaris.
“Dreaming of the blue flower and the decay of the aura” Curated by: Filippos Tsitsopoulos Artists: Bryan Catling, Gillian Dyson (performance), Chris Hawtin, Jack Catling (performance and video), Yiannis Mitrou (performance), Filippos Tsitsopoulos (performance), Maro Theodosiou (performance), Maria Charela (performance), Ioanna Skantzeli (performance), Alma Kalma (Lab performance).
Olga Economou Constantinides, “Discourse” Audiovisual installation
3st floor
Babis Karalis, "Virgin' Games" Installation
Sebastian Boulter, “Of Water” Audiovisual installation
Basilis Bacalis, “sortie romantique” Installation
Aikaterini Kanakaki, “White Rabbit” Installation
Performances
Vicky Filippa, “My name is Ori Gin” (in the context of, “Thing”, Cur. Helen Mesadou)
In the context of “The Silence of the Sirenes” (Cur. Georg Georgakopoulos): Athanasia Tsopanargia, “Fountain” Tasos Sagris, “The Metamorphosis” (Franz Kafka) “The Silence of the Sirenes”, directed by Martin Scharnhorst, Maerzbuehne (Theatrical performance)
In the context of “Dreaming of the blue flower and the decay of the aura” (Cur. Filippos Tsitsopoulos): Gillian Dyson, Jack Catling, Yiannis Mitrou, Filippos Tsitsopoulos, Maro Theodosiou, Maria Charela, Ioanna Skantzeli, Alma Kalma.
Dimitris Chalatsis (in the context of “Philoxenia”, Cur. Yorgos Lintzeris)