Exhibition: Fondazione Prada presents “Driftwood, or how we surfaced through currents”

Done with Athens documenta? There is still contemporary art to discover in the ancient city

For example the exhibition “Driftwood, or how we surfaced through currents”, curated by Evelyn Simons. The exhibition features 11 site-specific projects by Larry Achiampong, Meriç Algün, James Bridle, Hera Büyüktaşçiyan, Jeremy Hutchison, KERNEL, Chrysanthi Koumianaki, Persefoni Myrtsou & Eva Giannakopoulou, Lara Ögel, Maria Papadimitriou and Lloyd Corporation.

“Driftwood, or how we surfaced through currents” explores the movement of people, the circulation of capital, and how these endless flows of motion are organised, systematised, controlled and contested. Artists from different backgrounds and employing a plurality of media tackle these issues in a series of solo presentations, unfolding as a walk through the streets of the Exarcheia neighbourhood in Athens.

Meriç Algün. Promotion Europe, 2016. Installation with 60 EU promotional items and 60 yellow plexiglass pedestals. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Nordenhake. Photo: Paris Tavitian

EXPLORE EXARCHEIA NEIGHBOURHOOD

Shared thematic topics are investigated through this wide range of artistic contributions: advertising and marketing as tools used to cover up the exploitation in globalised production processes; labour ethics; the notion of home as a personal or collective construct; the structural limitations of human movement and thought; imposed or self-governed cultural identity; and practices dealing with community-building.

Maria Papadimitriou. Travail au noir, 2017. Site-specific installation with textile, sewing machines, furniture, sound installation. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Paris Tavitian

“Driftwood, or how we surfaced through currents” unfolds in the Exarcheia neighborhood of Athens at the following venues: 1. Lloyd Corporation (Char. Trikoupi 58), 2. Maria Papadimitriou (Char. Trikoupi 57, 3. James Bridle (Arachovis 30), 4. Larry Achiampong (Zoodochou Pigis 59), 5. Persefoni Myrtsou & Eva Giannakopoulou (Kafenio Mouria, Char. Trikoupi 87), 6. Hera Büyüktaşçiyan (Mavromichali 83), 7. Lara Ögel (Mavromichali 102), 8. KERNEL (Ippokratous 77), 9. Meriç Algün (Mavromichali 56), 10. Jeremy Hutchison (Mavromichali 27), 11. Chrysanthi Koumianaki (all venues).

Jeremy Hutchison, Movables, 2017, Series of 500 x 700 cm billboard prints on PVC, Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Paris Tavitian

Winners on display

“Driftwood, or how we surfaced through currents” is one of the three ex-aequo winning projects (along with those conceived by Michael Wang and Adnan Yldiz) of “Curate Award”, an international competition promoted by Fondazione Prada and Qatar Museums. Launched in May 2013, “Curate Award” aims to find new curating talent and to bring about original perspectives in exhibition making. The international jury selected the three winning projects in August 2014 among a large number of submitted proposals from 63 different countries.

Persefoni Myrtsou & Eva Giannakopoulou The Brides of Maltepe / 2nd episode, 2017 (ongoing since 2015) Video, 16’ 17”. Courtesy of the artists. Photo: Paris Tavitian

The exhibition will be open to the public from 17 June to 22 July 2017 (opening hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 4 – 9 pm).

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