It is with great success that the Mystery 19_Initiation as Methodology was held by 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture, in collaboration with Delta Pi Productions & Arts Management. From May 18 to June 10, six artists with a strong presence in Greece and abroad visited Elefsina, as part of the Visual Arts (V.A.) Initiator artistic residency program, were inspired by the place and its inhabitants and created works—the fruits of this interchange—highlighting the city’s rare diversity. The presentation of the works took place on Friday, June 10, as part of a special event/walking tour in various locations around Elefsina, selected by the artists.
An important role in the shaping of the program played three prominent institutions from the artistic residency sectors, acting as mentors. These are Yellow Brick, Eight/Το Οχτώ and Snehta Residency, who contributed to the creative process with human resources and expertise, and through a range of processes, themes, poetic nuance and methodology.
A few words about V.A Initiator:
The Visual Arts (V.A.) Initiator program, implemented by the ECoC for the second time, aims to introduce young visual artists to the art of in situ installation and site-specific performance, under the supervision of a curatorial team, and to give them the opportunity to experiment with small and medium-scale works. The program creates the necessary conditions for guest artists to develop – during their stay in Elefsina – a close relationship with the city, to experience it, react to its stimuli and reinvent it through their artistic creations.
Learn more here.
Emilia Liontou chose the Former Cafe / Bar “IRIS” for her work “Stepping Stones”
In an attempt to reclaim the city’s memories of its multifaceted history, Emilia renovates a part of the old IRIS club’s floor, a landmark for the city of Eleusina until the beginning of this millennium, next to the seashore. In an in-situ installation, she constructs a “terrazzo” using material she herself collected from the club, the beach and the city. Emilia is interested in the gesture of building up on ruins, a gesture of reclaiming their space and their place. Her work attempts to re-use found materials, in her attempt to adopt a more eco friendly/recycling practice, which aligns with the architecture of the city as well the terrazzo idea. In this way, Emilia incorporates traces of the past building and the city, into a new one. Further inspired by the labor residencies of Eleusina, Emilia aims in creating a liminal space, with the desire to retrieve the memories that are stranded in the limits between private and public space.
Peggy Zali exhibited her work “Female Whispers (1984-1985)” in the public space next to the “Nea Marina” (bench)
The installation “Women’s Whispers (1984-1985)” refers to the only independent feminist magazine of Elefsina, which holds the same name. In the introduction of the first issue, three women describe how and why they needed to start a feminist printed magazine in Elefsina, while they were sitting on a bench. The installation “Women’s Whispers (1984-1985)” consists of a metal sculpture, which doubles as the back of a bench, of stickers from the graphics of the magazine, of the name tags of the women that were printing the magazine and of selected phrases from it. Adjacent to it there is a sign with information regarding the magazine, as well as a QRcode to download it. A similar sign is placed in the space where the magazine was printed, at 16 Kountouli Str., while the printed issue is archived in the Aeschylian Public Library of Elefsina, 11 Pangalou & Kimonos, Elefsina, 19200.
The wooden pier next to “Nea Marina” hosted the work of Timothy Laskaratos, entitled “What a lovely spot”
Defining as a starting point a romantic meeting place on the coast of Eleusis, Timothy and the Cultterra team co-writed and interpreted a possible love scenario. Healing and assertive gestures make up the work of Timothy, who identifies himself as an artist, gardener and walker. The ‘what a lovely spot’ takes shape through gestures – an in-situ installation, the collaborative version with Peggy Zali and a planting and transplanting process.
Kamila Szejnoch presented the “Temple” installation on Fonia beach
The idea of the Temple starts with upgrading an old dressing booth – its form and ‘function’. Around the world, we can see various kinds of small chapels within certain aesthetic canons. The installation Temple is inspired by Greek small chapels ~παρεκκλήσι~ we can meet near the streets or close to buildings like hospitals, military camps or private mansions. The form of installation is an expression of the “fusion belief”, a re-interpretation of existing chapels. This self-made ‘temple’ (made of elements that are accessible in Elefsina) is going to serve for reflection, meditation, or just getting relaxed. At the same time – apart from its ‘usefulness’ – as any other sacral object – it may also express gratefulness, faith, or intention.
Eleni Mylona chose the beach under the former “Refreshment Room” for her project “Elefsina: Three small steps sideways forward and two sideways back”
Through the gaze of an outsider, “Elefsina: Three little steps sideways forward, and two sideways back”, suggests the creation of soundscapes and landscapes, atmospheres, sensations and images based on the city of Elefsina and its contradictions. Fragmented views on memory and history, the public and the private, dystopias and utopias comprise the central narrative of this live sound performance.
“Refreshment Square” (Platform) will host the work of Maria Nikiforaki “Skywaver”
“A sky choreography.
A snake charmer, a melancholic boat song, wording bodies history through waves.”
Info
Program Dates: 18/05 – 10/06/2022
Opening – Walking tour: Friday 10 June at 19.00
Starting Point: Elefsina Beach, Nea Marina (32 Kanellopoulou, Elefsina)
Contributors
Mentors & Co-curators: Yellow Brick, Το Οχτώ/Eight, Snehta Residency
Design-Production Management: Konstantinos Sakkas
Technical Direction: Vassilis Saltas
Content Curation & Curatorial Coordination: Rallou Avramidou
Coordination of Artists & Artistic Actions: Anastasia Tsopelaki
Production Management: Anna Vakontiou, Katerina Kazou
Production Management: Delta Pi
Program Documentation: The Arch Labyrinth
Promo Documentation: Parasol, Director: Panos Kostouros
