austrogenous zones
An ongoing dialogue between the contemporary Viennese and Athenian art scenes, since 2009
“austrogenous zones” is the third exhibition of this year’s Back to Athens 2026 | Popup-Preview, opening on Monday, 9 November 19:00.
Since 2012, Back to Athens has invited us to return to our city and rediscover Athens through a different perspective, exploring its everyday life, buildings, routes, history, and culture through the works and interventions of participating artists. This year’s edition, entitled Back to Athens 2026 | Popup-Preview, takes place in CHEAPART’s historic building in Exarchia Square, where two former bars are transformed into the backdrop for an unexpected, three-part artistic production. The program unfolds in three phases: opening on October 21 with the exhibition “ROBOMANTICS,” continuing on October 27 with “Heretics / Ketzer / Αιρετικοί,” and concluding with “austrogenous zones” on November 9. Within these dark spaces, unfolds a dramatic journey through image and sound, a simulation of emotions and struggles between a living past and a present that seems to have worn away prematurely. Thirty-five international artists and curators come together in the heart of Athens, at CHEAPART, a venue that has served continuously since 1995 as a meeting point for artists and cultural practitioners, a breeding ground for new ideas and pioneering artistic perspectives, and living proof that culture remains a timeless means of escape in an age of futile passions, confrontations, and barbarity.
“Austrogenous Zones” offers a compelling approach to Vienna's contemporary art scene, marking the latest entity of a series of exhibitions that was launched in 2009. Each year, a fresh curation of works and artists is introduced to systematically build a creative bridge with the Athenian art community.
Bringing together representative artists from across generations, the exhibition showcases the dynamism of the contemporary Viennese art world. The selected works highlight the elements, creative explorations, and common concerns that connect it with its Athenian counterpart. Over the years, long-standing collaboration and mutual support have opened unexpected channels of communication, consistently opening to new and innovative artistic proposals.
Elisabeth von Samsonow, Eva Schlegel, Christian Rupp, Heike Schäfer, Eva Hradil, Karl Kilian, Michael Gumhold, Julius Deutschbauer, Richard Jochum, Nikita Shukov
Curated by: Christian Rupp
Supported by the Federal Ministry, Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport, Republic of Austria, and the Austrian Embassy Athens.
Back to Athens 2026 | Popup-Preview is organized by APART Art Research and Applications, coordinated by CHEAPART, supported by the Austrian Embassy Athens.
25 A. Metaxa & Themistokleous 68, 106 81 Athens
Duration: November 9 – 14, 2026
Opening hours: Daily, 17:00–21:00
