After 100 days of the Documenta ends in Athens. To know the beginning of the taxi driver is not time that the art show was held. Slowly, the Greeks settled on the art. Now she’s gone again. What remains?
“No longer is a pity that there are soon,” says the older woman with the imposing grey pigtail. And you mean the free food in the colorful tent pavilion at the Athens town hall square. It is an art project of Noting the Rasheed Araeen, don’t know you probably. You might also be no matter. It has its place and many other needy. What a surprise, in view of the poverty in Athens. It takes courage to put up here as Documenta-Interested at ease on the tables, and to those who need it urgently, their share of “wegzuessen”, so a German visitor to formulated your discomfort.
The city of Athens can’t shake off
“Learning from Athens”, the times is commented-and behind the Motto of the Documenta14 asked. And now, shortly before the end, it seems that still nobody can give an answer, what is actually going on. Many have taken this phrase too literally, writes Marina Fokidis, curator consultant for the double look. You never had a “lesson” in the head.
Documenta-Director Adam Szymczyk
For you, as she continued her education, especially Learning from one another in both organization teams, to the grueling struggle for art and artists is important. A process that has already begun in 2014, as Adam Szymczyk in initial discussions with artists and institutions, his ideas in Athens, for discussion. The criticism that the Documenta would have exotisiert Athens, can’t you understand. “We wanted to not ‘Poornografie’, we did not want to expose the crisis and the German-Greek relations,” she says, almost indignant. And yet, both could not shake off, and why.
Art merges in Athens with the place
There is the old factory in the southwest of Athens, where the Nazis had murdered 75 Greek resistance fighters and the show was space for a Performance and a film project with students from the district. The art in Athens, more than in Kassel, a direct reference to the place, to the historical and current Situation. The more the question of what remains of the Documenta?
For the choreographer Kostas Tsioukas is clear, it goes on. Three months, three days a week, he has danced in the archaeological Museum in Piraeus, in front of pillars, sculptures, nestled on the marble meditating. To be a community project with dancers and performers has been so well received that the Museum wants to continue the cooperation. For Athens, a novelty. The antiquity is still regarded as the real cultural heritage, contemporary art is left outside.
“The Documenta leaves a large vacuum”
This will probably not change as quickly, feared Eleni Kountouri. She is the Director of NEON, the supports in addition to the Onassis and Niarchos, the third great Foundation, contemporary art in Greece. “The Documenta leaves a large vacuum,” she says a little perplexed. Clearly, there would not have been Athens-Hype, also promoted by the Documenta. Constantly get requests, contacts, search to Greek artists, galleries and the many young local initiatives.
However, this Hype has an impact on the artist’s training or the promotion of art, she doubts. The Ministry of culture have no money and be ignorant in the field of contemporary art.
Profit for contemporary art
Hitler portraits in the National Museum of Contemporary art (EMST) in Athens
After all, they fight to the Documenta: on social media, in the press. “That’s a good sign,” says Katerina Koskina something laconic. The Director of the National Museum of Contemporary art (EMST) could be considered as a real “winner” of the Documenta. For the first Time, you can show in Kassel, Fridericianum, a part of your collection, especially Greek art from the 1950s to the present – to an international audience. Not a hodgepodge, as you emphasized, but a worked-out design along the axes of politics, existence and boundaries. The collection has so far been due to lack of money and structural problems, is not in the EMST are presented. You should be able to see to Kassel, finally, also in Athens. A “Win-Win-Situation” for the Director, Katerina Koskina. Finally, the Documenta was able to occupy three floors in the building.
More than 300,000 visitors, the exact Numbers are not yet known, were alone in the EMST. To be a success, especially as the Documenta with your presentation has proven to be in Athens. Billboard advertising only shortly before the opening, with cryptic D14 sign that said only insiders something. In the meantime, the taxi drivers know that there is this art show and it is kind of important. No wonder, with 40 locations across the city, some of which are accessible only by Bus or Taxi.
Artists initiated a neighborhood project in the “problem district”
One of the projects, which can also be used after the end of the Documenta, yet controlled, is the neighborhood project on Victoria square. The area is regarded as a “problem district”, is known for drugs and crime, and was, moreover, until the last year, the centre for new arrivals of refugees. There, the US artist Rick Lowe has rented a Shop. A kitchen, a few tables, chairs, blackboards and pencils, and the basic equipment for the neighborhood meeting place.
Rick Lowe is in the midst of his newly-created neighbourhood meeting place
“Since then, the Junkies, the before here rumhingen way, and that’s good,” says Marios Blido. He’s Albanians, living there for 27 years, and has tackled from the beginning to the marsh in the establishment of the store. Meanwhile, there is a newspaper, the business owner, portrayed around the Victoria square, various courses for children, and architecture students are considering with local residents, what could be improved. Until April next year, the rental is secured, then the center, if possible, self-directed and sponsored by the city to do more.
The kiosk owner on the corner is irritated. Clearly, it is a good thing, he was also portrayed, but why an alien? And who pays for that? And why is that art?
Art creates networks without money
One should be sure of this – has not shaken only on the self-understanding of the Institution of Documenta fundamentally. She has the questions of what art wants to or can be extended beyond recoverability of the market, once again.
Marble tent with views of the Parthenon
“We have initially considered whether we are creating here in Athens, a building, something Solid, what remains,” explains the curatorial consultant Marina Fokidis. What will really remain with me, and she is convinced, are the many networks that are based on a different “currency” than the Euro. “Even if that sounds like a Hippie, these networks are closed, with the heart, not with money.”
“Small is beautiful”, this Motto dates back to the 70s, where everything was so colorful. Also, Athens is become by the Documenta colorful. Irritating Performances on the streets, strange dancers, and noise in the archaeological sites, in places you would never otherwise have seen, and the marble tent on the hill opposite the Parthenon – all of that is gone now. Too bad.