NON-PROFIT cultural organisation artefact athens presents wanderlust / all passports, a contemporary art exhibition curated by Kostas Prapoglou, which will take place at the impressive Schliemann – Melas mansion in central Athens. Built by architect Ernst Ziller (1837-1923) in 1890 for the family of amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, the mansion began its life as a complex of family residences. It was later used as part of the Arsakeio school during World War II, became a hotel for a short period, and was subsequently converted into offices for lawyers and notaries as well as shops that wrote their own history. The iconic Ideal cinema and the homonymous restaurant were added at a later stage in the 20th century, and they soon became a historic hangout of Athenian society. Today, the building is once again in transition as it will be converted into a hotel that aims to restore its former glory with all the architectural elements and decorative features lost over time.

Taking into account the conceptual meaning of travel, the essence of Homeric journey and what this could mean for each of us individually, the exhibition will attempt to bring the audience close to ideas of inner exploration, existential quest and emotional uplift. The physical hypostasis of the building in Ziller’s architectural conception is inextricably linked to the history of Athens and is a reference point for both tradition and national identity on multiple levels.

The concept of interconnectivity/hyperconnectivity of people and realities on both metaphorical and literal levels will be another axis of the exhibition. What allows us to travel beyond the need to experience new cultures? Is it the allure of the unknown? And especially today, is it the sense of security and ease of communication between distant places? Could it be the technology that now accompanies us every step of the way? Or could it be the ties between countries on political, diplomatic, and cultural levels? What does today’s traveler have in common with a conqueror from antiquity or a 19th century explorer? And how do we interpret Schliemann’s passion for antiquities, artefacts, and recognition today?

Participating artists converse with concepts of space-time and negotiate meanings related to the future through the prism of the past and present. Such ideas transform into subjective conditions, where one aspect intervenes and affects another, inscribing onto it, negating and subverting it, leading to a reshaping of mental axes and our perception of the world we live in.

Large halls, smaller rooms, corridors, and passages constitute a flow of consciousness and emotional trail. The activation of this space symbolically represents a breath of life, creativity, and inspiration. It signals a life force and a desire for rebirth and evolution. It is as a new passport for unlimited destinations.

This exhibition will attempt to create an immersive experience, encouraging each visitor to introspect and connect with the universal quest for meaning, identity, and interconnectedness. By bridging the past, present, and future, it invites us to reflect on the essence of our journeys—however we experience them—in an ever-evolving world. Curator Kostas Prapoglou invites 44 contemporary artists from Greece and abroad to present works that will respond to this unique space (site-specific) and context, creating with their visual, multidisciplinary vocabulary, installations, video, sculptures and painting.

Visitors are kindly requested to wear flat closed toe shoes

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Eozen Agopian (Greece), Anna Ampariotou (Greece), Lydia Andrioti (Greece), Anna Antarti (Greece), Klitsa Antoniou (Cyprus), Manolis Baboussis (Greece), Robert Cahen (France), Susan Daboll (USA), Lydia Dambassina (Greece), Angie Drakopoulos (USA), Asaf Gam Hacohen (Israel), Kleio Gizeli (Greece), Irini Gonou (Greece), Harriet Hedden (UK), Michal Heiman (Israel), Daniel Hill (USA), Annita Kalimeri (Greece), Giorgos Kontonikolaou (Greece), Stevie Love (USA), Hari Marini (Greece), Nefeli Massia (USA), Jonas Mekas (USA), Stella Meletopoulou (Greece), Dimitris Mylonas (Greece), Sandra Osborne (USA), Kriton Papadopoulos (UK), Ada Petranaki (Greece), Lea Petrou (Greece), Lina Pigadioti (Greece), Pipilotti Rist (Switzerland), Dimitris Savva (Cyprus), Evi Savvaidi (Greece), Ismini Samanidou (UK/Greece), Dimitra Skandali (Greece), Jesse Leroy Smith (UK), Marianne Strapatsakis (Greece), Tonoptik (Montenegro), Claire Tsalouchidis – Hadjiminas (Greece), Nikos Tranos (Greece), Thomas Valianatos (Greece), Apostolos F. Vettas (Greece), Maro Zacharogianni (Greece), Sofia Zarari (Greece), Eleni Zervou (UK).

• wanderlust / all passports. Curator + concept design: dr Kostas Prapoglou / organiser: artefact athens. OPENING: 17 OCTOBER 2024 | 19.00 – 23.00. Exhibition duration: 17.10 – 17.11.2024. Exhibition days/times: Thursday – Friday – Saturday – Sunday: 15.30 – 20.30. Schliemann – Melas mansion, Panepistimiou 46, 105 64, Athens | admission free

• CONTACT DETAILS
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