110 artworks by 137 artists, architects, and art theorists from Greece and abroad are presented in the Temporary Exhibitions Space (-1) of the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST) from May 27 to October 24, 2021.
The SYMBOLS & Iconic Ruins exhibition explores the ways in which we perceive and approach potent cultural symbols, bringing together under a common conceptual framework contemporary works of art and architecture by prominent artists and architects from Greece and abroad.
The exhibition marks an attempt to synthesize different conceptualisations of the symbol, by drawing eclectic affinities and highlighting common features, regardless of the radically different points of departure and processes involved in their production.
In addition to independent artworks, which reflect on the relationship between artistic and architectural creation, the core of the exhibition consists of three distinct but interconnected themes: the Acropolis of Athens, post-war architecture in Central Europe and the Berlin Wall.
According to Panayotis Pangalos, the chief curator of the SYMBOLS & Iconic Ruins exhibition, “the aim is to establish a unique dialogue between different species of ruins that hold pertinent symbolic value.”
The exhibition comprises artworks, many of which were created specifically for this event and are displayed here for the first time, documentaries on art and architecture, architectural models, videos, as well as rare archival material.
Due to the pandemic, a digital, online version of the exhibition has been created in a 3D interactive environment, in Greek and English.
The SYMBOLS & Iconic Ruins exhibition is part of Greece’s official celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Revolution of 1821.
Facts & Credits
Participating authors, artists, and architects Austin + Mergold – Jason Austin & Aleksandr Mergold, Armand Biglari, Mario Botta, Peter Eisenman, Alberto Ferlenga, Studio FUKSAS – Massimiliano & Doriana Fuksas, LGSMA – Luca Galofaro, Gianluca Fontana, Thilo Krense, GRAFT – Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz & Thomas Willemeit, Fabio Marroni, J. MAYER H. und Partner, Laurie Olin, Hyung-Geun Park, Franco Perrotti, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Heike Schuppelius, Yvonne Smink, Petr Vorlík, Dimitrios Agathopoulos, Andreas Angelidakis, Areti Adamopoulou, Stavros Alifragkis, Aristide Antonas, Angelos Antonopoulos, Kostis Velonis, Ariadni Vozani, Chryssa Voudouri, Argyro Galani, Yiouli Georgosopoulou, Eleana Yalouri, Dimitris Giannisis, Socrates Yiannoudes, Vassilis Ganiatsas, object-e architecture – Dimitris Gourdoukis & Katerina Tryfonidou, Stavros Gyftopoulos, Aristotelis Dimitrakopoulos, Katerina Zafeiropoulou, Demetrios Issaias, Nikos Kalogirou, Kalos & Klio, Konstantinos Kanellopoulos, Panita Karamanea, Nephele E. Katsarou, Elias Kafouros, KIZI STUDIO – Yannis Kizis, Costandis Kizis, Spyros Kizis, Antonis Kiourktsis, Myrto Kiourti, Aaron Cohen, Alexandros Kokkinos, Maria Kokkinou, Manolis Korres, Zissis Kotionis, Takis Koubis, Andreas Kourkoulas, Nefeli Kyrkitsou, Elias Constantopoulos, Anastasios M. Kotsiopoulos and Partners Architects, Andreas Lazaris, Nikolaos Laskaris, Thanassis Manis, Michalis Manousakis, Afroditi Maragkou, Ηara Marantidou, Tina Marinaki, Giannis Markantonakis, Sarra Matsa, Anna Machairianaki, Kyriakos Mortarakos, Phryni Mouzakitou, Thanasis Moutsopoulos, Aristides Baltas, Vassiliki Belessi, Tassos Biris, Constantine Bouras, Ilias Bourgiotis, Konstantinos Moraitis, Kostas Daflos, Georgios Xiropaidis, oiio studio – Ioannis Oikonomou, Panayotis Pangalos, Georgios A. Panetsos, Phoebus Panigyrakis, Apostolos Panos, Konstantinos Papadimitrakopoulos, Spiros Papadopoulos, Tassis Papaioannou, Giorgos Papakonstantinou, Konstantinos Papamichalopoulos, Morpho Papanikolaou, Nikolas Patsavos, Tsampikos Petras, SQ1 -SquareOne- Kostas Poulopoulos, For Cancel – Zoi Pirinis, Takis Zerdevas, Makis Faros, Thanassis Renztis, Yorgos Rimenidis, Rena Sakellaridou, Konstantinos Serraos, Nikolaos Sidiropoulos, Heimer & Alz – Andreas Sitorengo, Konstantinos Tiligadis, Sofia Sofianou, Stavros Stavrides, Eva Stefani, Vangelis Stylianidis, Ermioni Syrogiannopoulou, Helen Tatla, TTDZ Architects – Anastasios Tellios & Despoina Zavraka, Yorgos Tzirtzilakis, Yannis N. Tzortzis, Nikos Tranos, Giorgos Triantafyllou, Venetia Tsakalidou, Maria Tsantsanoglou, Konstantinos Tsioutas, Sofia Tsiraki, Kyriaki Tsoukala, Vassilis Tsonakas, Dimitris A. Fatouros, Anastasia Ferentinou, Dimitri Philippides, Angelos Floros, Yannis Hamilakis, Pantelis Chandris, Konstantinos Chatzaras, Dimitra Chatziandreou and Jimmy Chitas.
Chief curator Dr Panayotis Pangalos, Architect and Associate Professor at the School Of Applied Arts & Culture, University of West Attica.
Assistant curator of artworks Dr Thanassis Moutsopoulos, Architect and Associate Professor at the School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete.
Coordination Dr Stavros Alifragkis, Architect and Adjunct Lecturer at the Hellenic Open University and the Department of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Organization National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST) & Citylab
Citylab is an independent group of creative scholars and talented practitioners with varied academic and professional backgrounds, who organise high-quality and cutting-edge cultural events and educational, artistic, and scientific activities. Since 2014, Citylab has successfully organized exhibitions, scientific symposia, artistic events and educational workshops for architects and artists.
Co-organization Region of Attica, Athens Development and Destination Management Agency, University of West Attica, Athens School of Fine Arts, Czech Centre Athens.
With the support Green Fund of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Municipality of Athens, Municipality of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Athens, Embassy of Switzerland in Greece, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Athens, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Athens, Embassy of Hungary in Athens, Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Athens, Benaki Museum / Modern Greek Architecture Archives & Photographic Archives, Association of University Graduate Architects – Panhellenic Union of Architects, Hellenic Institute of Architecture, Hellenic Stage.
Under the aegis Ministry of Development and Investments, Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Tourism, and the moral support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Production Entertain.gr
Catalogue The bilingual SYMBOLS & Iconic Ruins exhibition catalogue (Greek-English, ISBN:978-618-5439-44-6), edited by Panayotis Pangalos and Stavros Alifragkis, is published by Eurasia Publications for the University of West Attica and includes theoretical contributions by distinguished scholars, such as Manolis Korres, Dimitri Philippides, Aristides Baltas, Panayotis Pangalos, Dimitris A. Fatouros & Stavros Alifragkis, Georgios Xiropaidis, Anastasios M. Kotsiopoulos, Konstantinos Moraitis & Nefeli Kyrkitsou, Maria Tsantsanoglou, Vassilis Ganiatsas, Areti Adamopoulou, Nikos Kalogirou, Eleana Yalouri, Helen Tatla, Yannis Hamilakis, Petr Vorlík and Thanasis Moutsopoulos.
Exhibition Sponsors and Supporters GOLD SPONSOR, ORAMA, CREATIVE PARTNER, EPIKYKLOS, PRODUCTION PARTNER, DESIGN ← AMBASSADOR
Sponsors ETEM, STONETECH, ITALCOM, NEOON, ENTEXNON, ARHETYPO
Media Sponsors ERT, DEFTERO PROGRAMMA, COSMOTE TV, HELLOGREECE, ARCHISEARCH
Photography Citylab, Olympianna Miliaki
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