Gilbert and George
dal 4/10/2001 al 25/11/2001
Segnalato da
4/10/2001
Gilbert and George
The Factory, Athens
Gilbert and George have been at the center of the international art scene since the 70's and until today continue to create with great success works of their own unique style. In parallel to their 'Living Sculptures', with which they became famous worldwide, they also engaged with drawings, paintings, performances and photographic assemblages of immense dimensions, all under the generic term of 'sculpture'. In Athens will be presented representative works from their photographic assemblages.
A major retrospective exhibition of the internationally renowned British artists GILBERT and GEORGE will be held at the 'FACTORY', the exhibition space of the Athens School of Fine Arts, from October 5 until November 25, 2001. The exhibition which was curated by the artists themselves will present 48 major works from important museum and private collections (among which are The Tate Gallery London, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam).
The artists will be present for the opening of the exhibition titled 'THE ART OF GILBERT and GEORGE - ATHINA 2001' on Friday October 5th, at 20:00.They will be in Athens for several days and the public will have the opportunity to meet them in person. Personalities from the international artworld - museum directors, art critics, collectors and journalists- will be attending the opening and the parallel events of this major exhibition.
Parallel events:
Saturday, October 6th, 12:00, Auditorium of the Athens School of Fine Arts: Open conversation between Gilbert and George and the British art historian Tim Marlow. Simultaneous translation will be provided.
Saturday, October 6th, 13:00- 18:00, Gallery Bernier/Eliades: Opening of the exhibition 'Nine Dark Pictures', with new works of the artists.
Gilbert and George have been at the center of the international art scene since the 70's and until today continue to create with great success works of their own unique style. In parallel to their 'Living Sculptures', with which they became famous worldwide, they also engaged with drawings, paintings, performances and photographic assemblages of immense dimensions, all under the generic term of 'sculpture'. In Athens will be presented representative works from their photographic assemblages.
In their works coexist conflicting elements: 'the abstract (grid) with the figurative (photography), the conceptual (nominalism) with the theatrical (life as art), the extreme aesthetic stance (moral goals) with the denial of good taste (abject) conservatism with innovation'(K. Sarris). Their works represent and deal with taboo issues and images of the contemporary society.
This exhibition in Athens is a challenge for Gilbert and George. Their works have been shown in retrospective exhibitions in all the major art centres of the world (Guggenheim Museum - New York, Hayward Gallery - London, Pallazo delle Esposizioni - Rome, ARC Musee d'art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Wolfsburg Kunstmuseum, Stedelijk Museum-Amsterdam, New Tetryakov Gallery- Moscow, The National Art Gallery-Beijing) where the impact of their work was tremendous.
Presenting their work to the Greek public is of special importance to the artists who hope that 'this exhibition [will] create an opportunity for people to enter and explore [their] world'. Discarding the notion of an aesthetic for an elite, they propagate that their main interest is to create 'Art for All'.
'The Art of Gilbert and George, Athina 2001' is realized in collaboration with the British Council and is an iniciative of AVRA, The Association for the Promotion of Arts in Athens. It is organized and coordinated by Marina Eliades and Jean Bernier. The main sponsor of the exhibition is the art magazine Highlights. Substancial support was also offered by: J.F. Kostopoulos Foundation, Evharis Estate, Interni restaurant, Ideal Systems, Cyber Technics, Karakitsos Security, Athanassios Bergeles transport company, the hotel NJV Athens Plaza, Ironie (Agnes B), Parkett magazine and the beer HB.
On the occasion of the exhibition a catalogue was printed with all the works that are included accompanied by a theoretical essay by Kyrillos Sarris. A website (www.gilbertandgeorge.gr) was designed to offer a virtual tour of the exhibition and additional material on the artists as well as links to many other relative sites.
Books, catalogues and art objects will be available at the Artstore in the exhibition space, undertaken by the DESTE Foundation. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy coffee and a light meal at the internet cafe created by Ideal Systems and catered by La Chocolatiere.
The exhibition runs from Tuesday to Friday 12:00-20:00 and Saturday, Sunday 12:00-16:00 ('The Factory', Athens School of Fine Arts, Pireos 256, Rentis). The entrance is free for the public. Guided tours by the art historian Manos Stefanides have been scheduled for the following dates: Wednesdays 10,17,24 and 31 October at 18:30 and Sundays 14, 28 October and 4, 11 November at 12:30.
For further information you may contact Alexandros Stanas (tel: 0932 680009) and for additional material, as well as photos,
please contact Nina Papadoulaki and Elina Giannitsioti Tuesday-Friday: 12.00-18.00, tel: 3010-3413938, fax: 3010-3413938