Athens Documenta

10 May 2017

We arrived in Athens and went straight to EMST, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, where there was an interesting mix of artists

Athens Documenta
There was so much energy but we found the translation confusing. The works were very anthropological but the show didn’t feel very cohesive and left us feeling a little lost
Athens Documenta
There were some good moments, such as Hans Eijkelboom, who back in 2014 created this mesmerizing work called ‘The Street & Modern Life, Birmingham, U.K.’
Athens Documenta
We made a quick stop to see Michael Landy’s show ‘BREAKING NEWS – ATHENS’ commissioned by NEON and shown at the Diplarious School. NEON had put out an open call to the public to send in images over the coming months that capture the social and political landscape of Athens, which Michael then uses to create blue and white drawings that are pinned to the walls. The resulting ‘signs’ really worked to remind me of both the problems within and beauty of Greece
Athens Documenta
The Benaki Museum proved to be the highlight of the trip for us. We saw a wonderful group of videos called ‘Paratoxic Paradoxes’ shown in the most original black foam setting with windows which created portals into the various video suites. Tiffany and Michael Xufu Huang outside preparing for the adventure ahead
Athens Documenta
My favourite work; Mika Rottenberg. It was a seven minute film taking the viewer through all different shopping experiences in the colourful Eastern markets
Athens Documenta
We all loved ‘What the sun has seen’ 2017 by Agnieszka Polska
Athens Documenta
I joined Michael and his friends for some of the way around the Benaki Museum. There was so much to see and so little time but definitely worth the visit to Athens just for that reason alone
Athens Documenta
We then headed to The Breeder where we saw Andreas Angelidakis' work taking on the city’s architecture and trying to make sense of where Greece is at the moment through its landscape
Athens Documenta
Another highlight! Maria Lassnig’s ‘The Future is Invented with Fragments from the Past’ at the Municipal Gallery of Athens curated by Hans-Ulrich Obrist, this was the last project that Maria was able to plan personally before her death. We were totally blown away and it was a great way to end a busy day