"Time's Spoils" is the title of the solo exhibition of the artist Mrs. Evi Athanasiou, which will be inaugurated on Saturday, June 8th 2024 at the Vouleftiko hall of Nafplio, and will last until June 23rd 2024, along with interesting parallel events.
The starting point of Evi Athanasiou's solo exhibition " Time's Spoils" was the site of the Vouleftiko itself, a monument inspired by Byzantine architecture, which retains a special place in the collective memory of the city, as the different uses it has acquired over the centuries are remarkable.
An emblematic building of the Ottoman urban life with a religious use - which according to legend was built on the bloodstained treasure of Aga Pasha - was converted into the first officially formed Parliament of the Greeks, and thus the name Vouleftiko was born. It was subsequently used as a court and prison.
The universal concepts, which derive from the history and the legends of the building, stimulated the artistic research of Evi Athanasiou, so that she created a series of works in situ around these symbols of memory. Her works are born out of dipoles, such as "Greed & Faith", "Violence & Redemption", "Revolution & Punishment", "Power & Justice", "Education & Correction", "Culture & Barbarism". Each work is directly related to the function of the Vouleftikon and its different uses. Through her works, the artist explores how relevant these concepts are today, at a time when we daily witness the global warfare, gender violence and social inequality and, as a result, culture is increasingly retreating in the face of barbarism and violence.
Editing - Theoretical Documentation of the exhibition
Mrs. Sophia Chryssafopoulou, Art Historian
Parallel Events
Walking Performance
"The Mosque" - Saturday, June 8th 2024, at 19:30.
Taking place inside the building, starting from the upper main area.
On the opening night, through this walking action that will take place, the artist invites us to reflect on the history of those who sacrificed and are sacrificed every day for the "bloody treasure" that a third party will reap. A journey from the act of crime to catharsis and conversion to light. The performance will end in the installation of the artist, from which excerpts from the poem by the Nafplio poet Vassilis Kouris entitled "The Hymn of Light" will be heard.
Engraving Demonstration Workshop
Daily, 19:30 - 21:00 (except Tuesday and Wednesday)
Musical Performance
"In which sea" - Friday, June 21st 2024, at 20:00.
Beyond the memories of history, in a second series of works, the artist engraves the memories of the sea and the old town of Nafplio. The sea is depicted sometimes melancholic and sometimes dangerous, sometimes as a symbol of loneliness, sometimes as a symbol of freedom and carefreeness, but always as a life-giver, which through its vastness is called upon to purify everything that weighs on man.
In the context of this unit, the artist will perform the musical performance "In which sea", with music curated by Andreas Rentoulis and "Ithaca", the poem by Sasa Kyriakou from Nafplio, will be presented.
Evi Athanasiou lives and works between Argolis and Athens. She studied applied painting and printmaking at Middlesex University in London (1994-1998), where she also completed a postgraduate course in Multimedia Design (1998-2000).
During her stay in New York, she turned to creative experimentation and came into contact with dance theatre, which influenced her aesthetic in interactive videos and installations. Her introduction to the painter and printmaker George Varlamos in 2010 was also a catalyst for her printmaking work. Since 2013, she has been working with performance art in her artistic practice, as she is interested in the vitality of this particular kind of expression - in that which unfolds in the "here and now". She has held solo exhibitions, such as "The Breath of Memory" at Fouar Art Gallery (Athens, 2022), "Diving" at the Cultural Center of Chora Amorgos (2018), "Fertile Incarnations" at the "kOlaz" Art Workshop (Athens 2017), "Holiday Breaths" at the Central Square Library of Oxylithos Square, Evia (2015). She has also participated in several group exhibitions, such as the 22nd Triennale of Printmaking (Grenchen, Switzerland), the 4th Print Festival (Nostos, Athens), Biennale 2 in Thessaloniki, etc.).
She is the founder of the "kOlaz" Art Workshop. At the same time, she is a member of the musical ensemble Danaides, under the musical direction of Andreas Rentoulis and a member of the municipal choir of Nafplion, conducted by Theodosis Antoniadis.
Duration of exhibition
From Saturday 8th, until Sunday 23rd of June 2024
Exhibition's opening
Saturday, June 8th 2024, at 18:30
Opening hours
From 11:00 to 14:00 and from 18:30 to 22:00
Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
Venue
Vouleftiko hall (Nafplio, old town)
Admission
Free
Did you know that?
The "kOlaz" Art Workshop, where Mrs. Evi Athanasiou is the artistic director and delivers classes, is an innovative open space for cultural gatherings, where courses in fine and applied arts or art history, meetings of creative groups, exhibitions, book presentations, film screenings, music nights, poetry nights and other events take place.
The exhibition is under the auspices of the Municipality of Nafplio.
