Sleeping Beauties
This exhibition, the conception of the idea, the selection of the artworks, it was all inspired by the very building that offers its hospitality. There are some forms of existence, alive or inanimate, that impose on you their character and the feelings you will experience. Entering an empty building is always a melancholic and, at the same time, an optimistic process. The mind makes up stories about the past and the future. However, this particular building, with its large blue and pink rooms, its ornaments on the walls and ceilings, its hidden rooms, does not let you feel sorry for it. It imposes its majesty on you and you are satisfied just by being able to bring it back to life again. In Athens there are many cases of such "sleeping beauties". They exist for decades in the wider context of our lives, lying dormant and waiting for human contact to wake up and serve their purpose again, whoever it is each time.
And there are artists too, who, either unintentionally or not, reflect on the same thing. On all those elements of our environment that most of the time are almost invisible to us due to habit, but which are always there, just waiting to be noticed and interacted with. To give us deeper thoughts, to challenge us to rediscover ourselves and the world through them and together with them. The imaginary creatures by Alkistis Mavrokefalou, created by the "remnants" of nature. The clouds by Dimitris Foutris, the withered flowers by Panagiotis Koulouras, the deserted landscapes of George Stamatakis, always present and waiting for us to understand their importance for our lives. Materials of our past by Dimitra Vamiali and materials of our own human activity by Alexia Psaradeli, transformed into works of art to continue to coexist with us. They are alwayes around us and all it takes is for us to "wake up".
"And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love's kiss, the spell shall break."
Artists: Dimitris Foutris, Panagiotis Koulouras, Alkistis Mavrokefalou, Alexia Psaradeli, George Stamatakis, Dimitra Vamiali.
Curated by: Galini Lazani
The exhibition “Sleeping Beauties” curated by Galini Lazani, is presented in context to Back to Athens 8 International Arts Festival.
The event considers all public health protection measures, in the context of avoiding the spread of coronavirus (CoV-19).
Back to Athens 8 | 2021 is organized by APART Art Research and Applications, under the Auspices of the City of Athens, with the support of the Austrian Embassy in Athens and the Ministry of Culture of Austria, Zoia, Athens Intersection Cultural Program, CHEAPART and the Offspring Young Artists Program.
Back to Athens 8 International Arts Festival 2021
Profiles of the Future: An inquiry into the limits of the possible
Isaiah Mansion
65 Patission & Ioulianou, Athens, 104 33
"Sleeping Beauties", 2nd floor
Opening day: Thursday, July 1, 16:00 - 22:00
Duration: July 1 – 4, 2021
Visiting hours: Thursday 1.7, Friday 2.7, 16:00 – 22:00, Saturday 3.7, Sunday 4.7, 12:00 – 22:00
