Strange days: The Dystopia of the Real
The world changed in a manner different from what the poets anticipated
"The anaesthetic wearing off
Antartica starts here" (John Cale-Paris 1919)
Strange days: It could be a cliche name of a rock band. However, the term accurately describes our current situation: ambiguity, skepticism, limbo; many question marks and pauses. Awkward moments, celebrating disturbing events that have altered the history of our planet. The world has changed in a manner far from the poet’s expectations. Reality has been captivated by hyper-reality, and along with it, the imaginary, the dillusional - utopia, has faded. The postmodern man imprisoned in a world of superficial manifestation, passivity and inactivity, sinks into a virtual cosmos, transferring his life into the screen. In reference to the current social pathologies, Baudrillard highlights the artificiality of simulations imposed by the mass media, where extravaganza has now replaced a meaningful world. The master of the imaginary is now the information.
Although utopian visions no longer exist, utopia - the ideal world, re appears as fragments of an ephemeral condition; mixed and confused with our current realities, showing us a route to escape. Utopia, an endless attempt to elude from dystopia, from alienation and misery, from a secluded society.
Utopia is on the horizon. I move two steps closer; it moves two steps further away.
I walk another ten steps and the horizon runs ten steps further away.
As much as I may walk, I'll never reach it.
So what's the point of utopia? The point is this:
to keep walking. (E.Galeano)
Utopian or not, the artists’ work have been conceived as an awake call, to voice an opinion, or at least to trigger discussion and feedback.
Brave in the kennel of his uncertainties, the neo-flaneur experiences, observes and records the complexities of the quest through space and time, focusing on discovery and mapping of the emotion.
Participating artists: Eleanna Balesi, Lina Bebi, Dimitris Georgakopoulos, Babis Karalis, Andreas Lyberatos, Eva Marathaki, Maro Michalakakou, Nikos Michalitsianos, Nikos Papadimitriou, Aliki Pappa, Giannis Sinioroglou, George Tserionis
Curated by: Andreas Vousouras, Nota Koulouriotou
"Strange days: The Dystopia of the Real" exhibition is part of the Back to Athens 6 International Arts Festival. Since 2012, Back to Athens Festival unites the city’s artistic scene in a public showcase of contemporary art and expression that boosts social awareness and restores the residents of Athens to the City Center.
Back to Athens 6 is organized by CHEAPART in collaboration with the Athens Commercial Triangle Revitalization Program of the municipality of Athens, and Athens Intersection cultural program with the support of the Austrian Embassy in Athens, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, My Odyssey/Hellas Group, Praxitelous Bar and Vikos.
My Odyssey
1 Vassilikis Str, Agias Eirinis Square, 105 60 Athens
1st floor
Opening: Friday, June 1 2018, 8:30 pm.
Duration: 1 - 10.6.2018
Hours: Saturday - Sunday 12:00 – 4:00 pm.
Monday - Friday 5:00 – 9:00 pm.
