ART AS INTRUDER IN THE PUBLIC SPACE
DISCUSSION | 25.11.2021
photo credit: Matteo Natalucci
25.11.2021
Location: Victoria Square Project
Who decides about public space? What role do the communities play in that decision? Accordingly, what are the limits of art when in public space? On the occasion of Adrian Paci's art installation "We Apologize" artists and curators exchange opinions and personal experiences on art interventions that they have designed, organized or visited in public spaces in Athens.
Speakers
Loukia Alavanou | Artist, Greece representative at the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale
Foteini Kokkinaki | Human Rights 360
Prodromos Tsiavos | Head of Digital Development at the Onassis Cultural Centre
Olga Hatzidaki | Independent curator of exhibitions and public programs and cofounder of TAVROS art space
Coordinator
Niovi Zarampouka-Chatzimanou | Victoria Square Project Director
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The in situ art installation “We Apologize” by visual artist Adrian Paci was hosted in Victoria square from October 20th until November 12th, 2021 in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts. During its presence in the public space the artwork provoked a series of reactions and discussions, while it drastically contributed in the public debate around coexistence, the meaning of belonging and contemporary art.
Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience that might have arisen from the presence of the installation in Victoria Square. We understand that even a small shift from our everyday itinerary and routine may be annoying, and we acknowledge the difficulty in coexisting with what is “new,” “other,” or “unknown” — qualities that may indeed challenge the things we take as given in our everyday lives.
The installation “We Apologize” was part of the “Across Borders” European program with the support of the Athens Culture Net of the City of Athens. Goethe-Institut Athen and EMST Athens are the public program collaborators. It forms part of VSP’s long-standing presence in the broader Victoria district as well as of the research and curatorial question “Who is the contemporary Athenean?”. Major Donor of VSP and the research and curatorial question is Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The program is implemented in cooperation with Kulturstiftung Allianz.
#weapologize_athens
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Loukia Alavanou
Loukia Alavanou is a moving image artist and filmmaker. In 2022 Alavanou will represent Greece at the 59th Venice Art Biennale. Since 2018, after receiving prices and international acclaim, Alavanou has started to be involved with the production of VR films and founded the first ever VR production company in Greece. For the years 2021 and 2022 she is a fellow artist at ONX Studio, organised by Onassis USA and the New Museum in NY, a residency program focusing on XR. Alavanou holds an MA in Photography from the RCA in London. She was the winner of the 5th Deste Prize. Alavanou’s work has been presented by institutions and festivals including KANAL Centre Pompidou, Gucci Garden, Kino Der Kunst, Palais de BOZAR, Palais de Tokyo, Athens Biennale, Moscow Biennale, Fiorucci Art Trust, The Museum of Cycladic Art, Benaki Museum, Viennale. Her films are part of numerous collections including the Onassis Collection, the Dakis Joannou Collection, The Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe/ ZKM, PCAI/ Polyeco Contemporary Art Initiative.
Fotini Kokkinaki
Fotini Kokkinaki is a journalist and the communication coordinator of HumanRights360. Born and raised in Athens, Kokkinaki studied Communication and Media and then Political Science and Sociology at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She work many years at Athina984 radio station, while currently she specializes in digital campaigning. She has been founding member of "Democratic Education" against racist violence at the primary and secondary education. She is an elected member of the board of the Hellenic league for Human Rights.
Olga Hatzidaki
Olga Hatzidaki is a curator of exhibitions and public programs with a focus on public space, communities and education.
For several years Olga curated exhibitions and programs as locus athens. In 2019 she co-founded TAVROS art space and she is currently acting as a freelance professional. Recently, she has finalized a community program in collaboration with the School of Fine Arts in Hamburg, Professors Valentina Karga, Jesko Fezer and two student groups of social design. In the context of this program, Olga curated a variety of infrastructural works for the Municipal Library and the 2nd Primary School of Tavros neighborhood.