Αrt Athina Virtual
The biggest annual art event starts its digital journey on October 15th 2020
Art Athina launches its digital programming through the platform Αrt Athina Virtual (www.aavirtual.gr) on 15th October 2020 and promises a uniquely different experience to the art-loving audience. Art Athina Virtual is under the patronage of H.E. The President of the Hellenic Republic Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
Art Athina was founded by the Hellenic Art Galleries Association in 1993 and it constitutes one of the oldest art fairs in Europe. Its strong institutional presence has been established over time through the continuous participation of Greek and international galleries, as well as its parallel artistic program, which takes place, not only during the annual organization of Art Athina, but all-year-round.
The new pandemic changed our lives in many ways. Reforming to the new reality, Art Athina goes virtual.
During the digital premiere of the International Art Fair of Athens which is one of Europe’s oldest art fairs, the visitors will be able to navigate the art fair through their computers, tablets or smartphones and meet the artists and their artworks without time limitations, since Art Athina Virtual will be accessible 24 hours every day -with different day and night mode- 7 days per week, until the end of October.
Art Athina Virtual features the parallel programming that has always been surrounding Art Athina and has established its own audience, with sections such as Talks, Performances, Video and independent art spaces under the title Projects.
The transfer of the largest annual art institution in Greece to a digital environment due to the unprecedented conditions that emerged with the advent of the coronavirus epidemic and forced the cancellation of Art Athina 2020 at Zappeion Megaron as originally planned, will not limit the public’s contact with visual creation exclusively in the digital world.
Art Athina Virtual organizes Art Athina Week that will last from 13 to 20 October, during which the Athenian galleries will be able to exhibit in their natural spaces the works that will be presented in the viewing rooms.
As every year, the organization of the event belongs to the Hellenic Art Galleries Association and to the Art Athina team, with Artistic Director Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos. The implementation of the platform is carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Artistic Programming Art Athina Virtual
Viewing Rooms
The art galleries will present their digital booths through an easy-to-use platform, which will allow them to communicate the works of their artists with the public, locally and internationally. The platform will also support video art, audio installations and digital artworks.
Projects
Independent art spaces from Greece and the United States are be invited to present their online projects exclusively for Art Athina Virtual. The participating spaces are: Aetopoulos, Andreas Melas, Arch, Intermission, Radio Athènes, Serapis, and Vernon Gardens.
Talks
The Talks program of Art Athina Virtual have their own platform connected to the main website, offering the possibility of reproduction in all the communication channels of the exhibition. The program, curated by art critic and curator Marina Fokidis, will be based on subjects focusing on artists, collectors, galleries and institutions. The discussions will include reflections on contemporary art in the context of the new reality. The Talks section will also present the Educational Program implemented for the third year by the Hellenic Association of Art Galleries and the Ioannou F. Costopoulos Foundation in the context of Art Athina. The program, designed by the artistic director of Art Athina, Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos, is addressed to students of the School of Fine Arts, and aims to inform, inspire and prepare them for their introduction to the art world.
Performance
The Performance program of Art Athina is curated by Marina Fokidis under the title “Signs of proximity” is “Signs of proximity”. The program aspires to present new productions along with historical performances. A total of 24 artists from Greece and abroad – including Lida Papakonstantinou, Thalia Chioti, Panos Charalambous, Nikos Tranos, Nikos Navridis, Mary Zygouri, Angelos Skourtis, George Sapountzis, Georgia Sagri, Liliane Lijn, Jannis Varelas, Vassilis Karoul covers a time range of 21 years.
Video
In the digital realm, the Video program returns to its roots. It includes videos of artists such as Marina Abramovic and Ulay, Menelaos Karamaghiolis, Loukia Alavanou, Leto Kattou and George Drivas – selected in collaboration with organizations and collections such as Daata Editions, DESTE Foundation, Daskalopoulos Collection, POLYECO Contemporary Art Initiative, along with independent artists and project spaces, such as Enterprise projects. The Video program is curated by Art Athina Artistic Director, Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos.
Visual identity of Art Athina Virtual
The visual identity of Art Athina Virtual refers to the pandemic and its consequences in our daily lives. Each letter of the new typeface is made out of shapes that do not stick together, referring to the social distance that is required for the safety of all of us due to the pandemic. Just as we are called to be together without physical contact, the elements that form each letter try to form a cohesive image so that the text is legible. Among the words the visitors can see red doodles that humorously capture situations we all experienced every day during the lockdown and try to add a note of optimism to the new reality.
Art Athina’s visual identity is signed for another year by G Design Studio.
Art Athina Virtual participating galleries include:
a.antonopoulou.art (Athens), Agathi Kartalos (Athens), Alibi Gallery (Athens), Allouche- Benias Gallery (Athens) Alma Contemporary Art Gallery (Athens- Trikala), Anat Egbi (Los Angeles) ANNA PAPPAS GALLERY (Melbourne -Athens), Argo Gallery (Athens), Αrt Appel Gallery (Athens), Art Zone 42, (Athens), Astrolavos Art Galleries (Athens), Αthens Art Gallery (Athens), Bel Ami (Los Angeles), Bernier/Eliades Gallery (Athens), Calicoon Fine Arts (New York), Carwan Gallery Athens (Piraeus), Cask Gallery (Larissa), Cheapart (Athens), Citronne Gallery (Athens-Poros), Crux Gallerie (Athens), Cube Gallery (Patra), Dio Horia (Athens), DL Gallery (Piraeus), Donopoulos International Fine Arts (Thessaloniki), Edel Asanti (London) ekfrasi-yianna Grammatopoulou (Athens), Eleftheria Tseliou Gallery (Athens), Eleni Koroneou Gallery (Athens), ENIA Gallery (Piraeus), Epsilon Art Gallery (Loutraki), Ersi Gallery (Athens), Evripides Art Gallery (Athens), Foxy Production (New York), Gallerie Krinzinger (Vienna), Gallery “7” (Athens), Gallery Art Prisma (Piraeus), Genesis Gallery (Athens), Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti (Athens), Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center (Athens), In Lieu (Los Angeles), Kalfayan Galleries (Athens- Thessaloniki), Kappatos Gallery (Athens), Lola Nikolaou Art Gallery (Athens), Mihalarias Art (Athens),Nitra Gallery (Athens-Thessaloniki), Papatzikou Gallery (Veroia), PeriΤechnon Karteris (Athens), Real Pain Fine Arts (Los Angeles), Rebecca Camhi Gallery (Athens),Rodeo Gallery (Piraeus), Skoufa Gallery (Athens), Sophie Tappainer (Vienna),Tanya Leighton (Berlin), Τechnohoros Art Gallery (Athens), The Breeder (Athens), Union Pacific (London), Zeller Van Almsick (Vienna), Zina Athanassiadou Gallery (Thessaloniki), Zoumboulakis Galleries (Athens).
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