Employing contemporary art as a guide, this exhibition focuses on writing and proposes new ways of reading the rich archives of Gennadius Library.

Selected from his unique diaries, writings of the renowned archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann are placed in dynamic discourse with visually engaging writings of the artist Antonios. Written in 13 languages, from Russian to Arabic and Farsi, Schliemann’s texts function as chronicles of his multi-cultural initiation and transcribe this process materially. Antonios’ work in over 70 languages poses parallel issues, revealing writing as a miraculous, multi-purpose tool. Digitized material from the Schliemann Papers of the Archives of the Gennadius Libray will be also presented.

Curator: Marina Kotzamani     

ANTONIOS

Biographical Information

Antonios lives and works in Athens, where he was born in 1957. In his philosophically grounded work, attempts to conceive of the infinite in visual art, simultaneously question the feasibility of this enterprise: any metaphysical vision is necessarily contained within the culture producing it and especially within language. This dialectic relation between metaphysics and language is characteristic of Antonios’s approach since the 1980s, in the monumental work ESPACE DE MEMOIRE – ΓΑΙΑ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ, where he introduced the element of language in 1988. Since then, over a period of thirty years, writing has been central to his vision and the artist has extended his explorations in multi-cultural directions. Antonios has presented his work in solo shows, including the National Research Foundation (2015), Oplostassio Technis (2014), the Municipal Art Gallery of Psychiko (2005) and Athenaeum (1989). He has also participated in international art shows and cultural events, including the International Book Fair «Mythologien des Buches» in Frankfurt (2001), the Biennial of Cetinie IV Reconstructions, (2002), Art Athina (guest artist, 2016) and the Olympics of Athens, “Athina by Art” AICA (2004). Other group shows include “Art in Archives” Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Piraeus (2017) and “The flag of the University” at the Museum of the University of Athens (2017). In 1998 he received the Prize of the Municipality of Athens for painting on building surfaces in Athens.    

Duration: September 25, 2018 – October 31, 2018

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9.00-17.00

Thursday: 9.00-20.00

Saturday: 9.00-14.00

Guided tours will be given on September 29, October 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 2:00-3:00 pm. For more information, please contact Marina Kotzamani at (210) 6744602, 698 556 4212 or at m.a.kotzamani@gmail.com

The exhibition will also be open to the public on Sept. 26-29 (during the Curtis Concerts) and on October 5 (8:00pm-12:00am). 

Free admission

As part of the