Athen 1.0: Eine Gruppenausstellung

About

Following London, Paris, Cologne and Berlin, with Athens 1.0 we continue our cyclic group exhibition series, which provides a loosely ordered insight into current trends and developments regarding different art metropolises. Rather than looking for similarity within the artists’ works, we have chosen to focus on the diversity that makes up the artistic richness of these cultural hubs. Working in different fields and media, what links these artists is the fact that they live and work in the same city. The opening of Athens 1.0 on Friday, June 27th coincides with the 2nd edition of the K1-Gallery-Night.

Zoi Gaitanidou (*1981 in Athens) uses embroidery to create elaborate tapestries that combine figures and abstract patterns with an intensity that recalls tribal art. Her imagery is reminiscent of a naïve derivative of neo-Expressionism that also evokes a contemporary take on the tropical visions of Henri Rousseau.

Vassilis P. Karouk (*1977 in Athens) creates hauntingly dark paintings which reveal the abysmal depths of humanity. He characterises the human being as a monster, but not in an incidental sense, not in the way that is defined by public moralizing or international law. The human is a monster as part of his constitution and capable of violence as a choice.

Panayiotis Loukas (*1975 in Athens) moves along the lines of fantasy and mythology or even horror-like storytelling. Drawn in great detail, his oil paintings build a story and invite the viewer to explore everything that seems hidden or unfamiliar. In his works, things we find more terrifying appear that way because they once seemed familiar and are now brought up by an uncanny pose or incident.

Mantalina Psoma (*1967 in Athens) deliberately chooses realism as a form of expression. In her paintings, she shows fleeting moments which appear familiar to the viewer. Her pictures are reminiscent of photographs or film stills, characterising existential moments and emotional, psychological borderline situations. Through this she creates a balancing act between reality and fiction, intimacy and distance, between serenity and irritation.

Anastasis Stratakis (*1985 in Thessaloniki) works around the exploration of systems, which put seeing and remembering into the centre. In his drawings and paintings, he examines the individual and collective memory and the interactions between the two. The depiction of his subjects and the inherent processes are understood as a possibility to perceive and understand temporal and historical relevance.