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EXHIBITIONS

ΙΝ ΤΗΕ ΝΑΜΕ ΟF by Leda Papaconstantinou

Dates happen: 22/09/2007 ... 11/11/2007 1st Contemporary Art Biennale of Thessaloniki: "Heterotopias"
Parallel Program
Guest artist: Leda Papaconstantinou
Work title: "IN THE NAME OF"
September 22nd- November 11th , 2007

Sequential, programed actions which take place in the urban web of Thessaloniki and Athens and the tranquil, protected spaces of Thessaloniki's foreign cemeteries from World War I as well as non-orthodox communities of the city, will be shown on five screens which will be submersed in water, level with the city's Port. Leda Papaconstantinou's innovative work titled "In the name of", will open for the public on September 22nd at the city's Port by Warehouse Β1 (the opening taking place at 20:30), followed by a performance by the artist.
Leda Papaconstantinou is the official honorary artist of the 1st Contemporary Art Biennale of Thessaloniki which is organized by the State Museum of Contemporary Art (May 21st - September 30th) with the support of the Ministry of Culture, in the framework of the "Culture" program - co-financed by the E.C. (European Regional Development Fund participating with 80% and 20% by the Ministry of Culture).
The camera observes and records the artist's movements, her random or wanted meetings with people that live and work permanently in these spaces, or who sporadically pass though them. Her revered approach to the tomb stones where she lays down some personal belongings recalls the personal memory of the people that were killed in the line of duty or who died of diseases at military hospitals. At night, the images of the cemeteries are reflected in the sea in a ritual of purification, while the narration is completed by screenings on the buildings at the port. In particular, the work "In the name of" is an original, comprehensive and segmented work of video-art performance which is then subsequently transformed into a video-installation.
As the curator of the work, Syrago Tsiara explained: "This particular work by Leda Papaconstantinou, the honorary artist of the 1stThessaloniki Biennale, attempts a new passage, approach and emotional refamiliarization with spaces which house the memories, anticipations and the needs of the people who live in and visit them. The selection of the spaces where these programmed actions take place isn't immediately apparent. What can Omonia square, the Haftia, Votanikos and Menadrou street have in common with Stavroupolis' Simahika, Mikra, Dendropotamos and Exohi? What can the economic refugees who live and work in the neighborhoods of Greek cities have in common with the soldiers of the Western Front who were buried in the Commonwealth cemeteries of World War I, with Jews, Armenians and Thessaloniki's Protestants?"

The screenings will take place though the end of September from 21:00-24:00 and from October 10th till November 11th, the work will be presented at Warehouse Β1, during CACT working hours (10:00- 14:00 and 18:00- 22:00).

Please note that "In the name of" is the first production that the Contemporary Art Centre of Thessaloniki, an independent department of the State Museum of Contemporary Art, has undertaken entirely on its own, honoring a Greek artist who has already been evaluated for the essentially original character of the entirety of her work.

Production: Contemporary Art Centre of Thessaloniki
Curator: Syrago Tsiara

COMMUNICATION SPONSORS: ERT / KATHIMERINI / Κ magazine / "PHOTOGRAPHOS" magazine / Republic Radio 100.3

INFO

MINISTRY OF CULTURE
STATE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
1ST THESSALONIKI BIENNALE OF CONTEMPORARY ART – www.thessalonikibiennale.gr

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