ATHENS, the city whose ancient art and culture has inspired the course of western European art in so many ways, is also home of the contemporary art fair Art Athina, which celebrated it’s 30^th anniversary this year. In recent years it has been hosted at the Zappeion Mansion, thus in a sense encapsulating that effervescent contemporary creativity within a neo-classical architectural ‘nutshell’ (designed by Danish architect Theophil Hansen back in 1878). The contrast between the building and its contents is therefore effective!

This year’s Art Athina runs September 14-17 at Zappeion Mansion, and the hundreds of artists’ works on display in the booths of the 67 galleries and art spaces taking part, give viewers an opportunity to delve into the exciting world of Greek contemporary art, but also to see works from another nine countries (Germany, France,Netherlands, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Uruguay, Poland, Romania). The fair is organized by the Hellenic Galleries Association.

Art Athina also did some market research this year, and the results were interesting: Visitors are 64% women, 30% men (while 5% preferred not to say). Fifty percent had a university education, and 30% of visitors worked in the private sector, while 26% were freelance/business owners. Most people visited in order to be informed about contemporary art (70%), while 30% saw it as a form of entertainment.

An interesting entry this year from London, was the Claas Reiss gallery, featuring the work of Konstantinos Argyroglou. It is the first time that this young artist is participating in an art fair, and it his first solo presentation. He chose Art Athina to be his first art fair, although he lives and works in London, because he wanted to connect again with his native land. The strong relationship he has with his family comes through in his work, which is based on family photos that the artist has reinterpreted, infiltrating them through his unique technique of combining watercolours and oils. There is a lot of tenderness, emotion, nostalgia in these works, which affect the viewer.

There are many interesting works to peruse at Art Athina this year, making it once again definitely a worthwhile outing. From the witty use of typefaces in works displayed at The Breeder and at Allouche Benias galleries, to the candy-coloured mountains that Ioanna Constantinou flies over in her dreams, and which she turns into painted landscapes (on show at artzone42). From the ‘classic’ contemporary Greek heavy-weights (eg Chryssa at Mihalarias Art, or George Lappas at Citronne), to the many newcomers with their fresh ideas, who add their own discourses, or contribute something new to the ongoing dialogues of contemporary art… There’s something for everyone.

• Art Athina runs September 14-17 at Zappeion Mansion. Open 12.00-21.00
• For more info go to the site http://www.art-athina.gr

‘Art Scene Athens’ is written/run by artist/journalist Stella Sevastopoulos. Dedicated to presenting what is happening on the Greek art scene (but not only), and also to giving Greek artists an international voice on the internet. For more on Stella Sevastopoulos’s art, click here If you would like to be featured in Art Scene Athens, please send email (stelsevas@yahoo.com).