For the fourth commission in the Artists in Dialogue series, renowned Greek artist Zafos Xagoraris presents an installation which takes the form of an outdoor classroom built on non-horizontal ground, making a statement on the teaching methods historically used in conditions of crisis (war, earthquake, concentration camp etc.) when indoor teaching becomes impossible.
In this context, Xagoraris invites the viewer to explore the way education is connected to social change. The artist challenges the social conditions of each era, historical memory and nature. The project’s ephemeral nature places it in the category of artworks that deal with 'public space' allowing a more democratic participation.
Zafos Xagoraris (Athens, 1963) studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His Ph.D. from the National Technical University of Athens was on the construction of miracles by Hero of Alexandria. He has presented various personal exhibitions and his work consists of public installations, participatory events, obstructing devices of visual or other signals, and environments with the use of sound amplification mechanisms (for example in the deserted villages of Cyprus, 2003–5). He has participated in exhibitions including the 4th Athens Biennial; Cliché Verre Reloaded, Spinnerei Archiv Massiv, 2013; Sotto Quale Cielo, Museo Riso, 2011; Manifesta 7, 2008; 1st Bienal Fin del Mundo; 1st Thessaloniki Biennale, 2007; and the 27th Sao Paulo Bienal, 2006. He was one of the curators of the Greek Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture (2004) and the 2nd Athens Biennial (2009). He’s an Assοciate Professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts and was a Visiting Scholar at the Columbia University, NY, in 2004. He has been invited to present his work at the University of Illinois at Chicago; Academy of Fine Arts, Munich; D’Annunzio University, Pescara; IUAV, Venice; School of Visual Arts, NY; and many others.
Exhibition
| Opening | 25 February 2015, 20.30 |
| Exhibition | 26 February–17 May 2015 |
| Where | Benaki Museum 138 Pireos Street & Andronikou 118 54 Athens |
| Telephone | 210 345 3111 |
| www.facebook.com/events/716952278423971 |
Artist’s Talk: Outdoor education in times of crisis
To complement the opening of Zafos Xagoraris new work, we invite you to join the artist in a discussion with the Historic Files Manager of the Benaki Museum, Mr. Tasos Sakellaropoulos. The conversation, entitled Outdoor education in times of crisis, will explore the historical and theoretical context of the work. Admission is free.
| When | 25 February 2015, 19.00 |
| Where | Benaki Museum 138 Pireos Street & Andronikou 118 54 Athens |
| Telephone | 210 345 3111 |
| www.facebook.com/events/716952278423971 |
Information
For further information, please contact Maria Papaioannou:
| Maria.Papaioannou@britishcouncil.gr | |
| Telephone | 210 369 2336 |