Sleep Matters
Sleep is traditionally regarded as the indispensable "vehicle" which bridges us with other realms -alluring or nightmarish. Its quite common for artists of all civilizations to represent the naturalistic posture of the sleeper, vulnerable against any possible threat.
The origin of this precondition has its roots in a plentitude of mythological stereotypes; a person surrendered to Morpheas is left to the mercy of the malevolent intruder’s aspirations, motivated either by an erotic desire or the urge to take the life of the sleeper.
Only later, in modern art, artists represented sleepless figures captured in their thoughts, adding thus their personal experiences. In some other representations, the case of insomnia is depicted; a figure watches another while it is sleeping, having a friendly intent.
With the ascertainment that a "creative" utilization of sleep is expressed mostly by the representation of mythological couples and the side effects -beneficiary or not- of insomnia as a starting point, this exhibition comes to pose terse questions on the vulnerable relationship between the subject and the "complexity" of the phenomenon he/she is experiencing. In modern western societies, integrated sleep is considered, more than ever, a luxury that requires spiritual and muscular relaxation, something not for granted. An alarming percentage of individuals are called to overcome certain pathologies caused by metropolitan habits, such as hyper-activity lifestyles and hysteric socializing, while TV viewing dictates social isolation.
The exhibition presents projects that reflect today’s phobia on sleep, diverting us from the representational sensual lyricism of the past -quite intense in Greek painting- catering at the same time the necessity to commence an interaction with the overwhelming common experience we all share. In its entirety, the exhibition avoids mythological and historic references - both plentiful in antiquity, the renaissance and the heroic periods of modern art.
The projects focus on the bed, the vehicle-tool of sleep, sometimes in an indirect manner, through repetitive bedroom wallpapers for example. In other cases, sleep is conceived as a strictly private moment and as such, is associated with public space. The participating artists, architects and designers use mainly photography, videos and industrial design as their technological tools; they identify sleep through mechanisms of observation that bring forth and reanimate the Freudian ghost of the analyst and the analyzed. The result of these mediums leads to a more “scientific” approach. Each vision that is recorded leaves a trace of truthfulness that makes it even more convincing.
Kostas Velonis is the curator of the exhibition.
Participating artists: Hilde Aagaard, David Cuesta, Nagia Giakoumaki, Giannis Theodoropoulos, Lida Likourioti, Guido Maranzana, Kostas Basanos, Nial Mc Clelland, Panagiotis Tsagaris, Kostis Velonis, Dimitris Foutris.
Opening: Wednesday November 13, 20:30
Duration: 13 - 24.11.2002
Hours: 14:00 - 21:00 daily
CHEAPART
25 A.Metaxa
106 81 Athens, Greece
