The sound of the Athenian streets resonated through the Athens Biennale during Heaven’s two day Hip-Hop music event, which brought together thousands of visitors of all ages and 14 music groups. The barriers of “high” and “low” art are being constantly questioned fopr a long time now, in a perfect place like Heaven, however, they just don’t exist.
Street culture at the Athens Biennale
October 13, 2009“Heretismoi” by Eva Stefani
October 5, 2009Little Angels
October 2, 2009Under the title “Little Angels”, the educational programme of the 2nd Athens Biennale run through September, offering the opportunity to young visitors to try out their own artistic inclinations. Organized in collaboration with the artists of the exhibition, the programme provided children with the chance to work and play, familiarizing themselves with sculpture and painting, web art and interactive games. Heaven’s theme was complemented by artistic innocence.
Building Heaven: Andreas Angelidakis
September 19, 2009Andreas Angelidakis gave a lecture yesterday, in the Glass Building, next to the main venue of the 2nd Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN. He walked us through various projects he has completed in the last ten years, and he spoke about the intricacies of designing exhibitions. He described various ideas that inform his work, and how they they played a part in the design of the 2nd Athens Biennale. Those not fortunate enough to have listened to the lecture may find more information on Andreas Angelidakis’s work on his website and his blog. A text covering the process that led to the highly acclaimed design of the Biennale is included in the 2nd Athens Biennale catalogue.
International Necronautical Society – The Athens Declaration on Inauthenticity
September 17, 2009The International Necronautical Society (INS), founded in 1999 and based in London, delivered the Athens Declaration on Inauthenticity, on Sunday 14 June 2009, as part of the “Hotel Paradies” exhibition, curated by Nadja Argyropoulou, 2nd Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN. Watch the video of the event that took place on the Esplanade, near the main venue of the Biennale. More on INS: http://necronauts.org
Michael Gibson – YNWA
August 26, 2009Artist Michael Gibson worked with sound engineers at ARUP to create YNWA (2009), an installation of three sound samples: Liverpool football fans, the voice of Marcel Duchamp, and The Conversation by Francis Ford Coppola. These correspond to three functions: transposition, negation, and substitution.
The work was commissioned by the 2nd Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN, as part of the Splendid Isolation, Athens exhibition, curated by Cay Sophie Rabinowitz.
Listen to the sound piece by Michael Gibson, while touring through the space where it is presented, at the Biennale main venue.
monument to internet hookups
August 20, 2009“Monument to Internet Hookups”, a work by Angelo Plessas, takes a ride through downtown Athens, from the Athens Pride parade to its exhibition space at Trocadero Park, close to the main Biennale venue. The work is a new production of the Biennale, part of the “Splendid Isolation, Athens” exhibition, curated by Cay Sophie Rabinowitz, and is presented in collaboration with Athens Pride. More photos from “Monument to Internet Hookups” here.
art walk goes to heaven
July 24, 2009This short documentary by Art Walk – TVXS.gr, presented by Iliana Fokianaki, gives us a tour of the exhibitions in the main venue of the 2nd Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN. The presentation is in Greek, but we hope the images transcend language barriers! Take the tour!
make me look good
July 22, 2009The overlooked art of portraiture takes a fresh approach at The “Beret from Montmartre” project, part of the Velvet festival. Well known artists recapture the spirit of Montmartre (and even the common Greek island sight of sidewalk artists) doing for free the portraits of the audience and passersby. You made me look great!
St Peter was the referee
July 20, 2009The ultimate football game between artists and musicians was the highlight of the Velvet Days in Heaven festival. Under an amazing dj set of international and local football anthems pulsating the Water Plaza,the home team of Artists beat the team of Musicians with a score of 4-3, therefore the trophy will adorn the biennale’s headquarters for the next two years
Our nights are better than your days
July 17, 2009Man in the sea
July 16, 2009UFO sighting at Faliro
July 13, 2009Yoga time
July 10, 2009life+art=LIVE
July 10, 2009Larry Gus performing at the small playground of Batis beach. A spontaneous mixture of daily life and art, swimmers and kids under the spell of contemporary music. Who said that art is only for museums, galleries and art centers? Yet another public intervention from the exhibition “Live” curated by Papaioannou and Xagoraris.
no clouds, just happy hours!
July 9, 2009et in Faliro ego
July 8, 2009wet wings
July 8, 2009My Wet Calvin in a ‘mystical’ live performance at Batis beach. The passers-by were curious “is it a new religious sect?, is it a ceremony?”, as paper wings were mandatory for everyone wishing to enter in the tent and a paper-bearded St Peter made sure nobody with clipped wings would enter. Finally the tent was torn and the angels spread in Faliro.
Guide Angels
July 6, 2009Angels in action! AB2’s devoted team of volunteers are the spirit of the free guided tours in HEAVEN held weekly. The visitors are thrilled to get to know the works in depth in special 90min tours through the 5 exhibitions of the main venue. The guided tours targeted to the art aficionado and the general public alike are carefully planned by AB’s educational team and one of the things that make us proud, and the public tends to agree 🙂
a car made symphony
June 29, 2009Internationally acclaimed experimental music composer ILIOS performing live in Heaven. His “Symphony for Electronics and Internal Combustive Engine” resonated the arches of the Water Plaza.
not blurry just 3D…
June 29, 2009A group of visitors in 3D glasses enjoying one of the most captivating works on display: Zoe Beloff’s
“The Ideoplastic Materializations of Eva C”, part of the exhibition “Hotel Paradies” (curated by Nadja Argyropoulou). A video installation of 4 projectors recapturing with a wink the essence of early 20th century spiritualistic seances with ghosts, mediums and ectoplasms.
Konstantinos B
June 29, 2009art gives you wheels
June 29, 2009Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN TV Spot #3
June 28, 2009Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN TV Spot #2
June 28, 2009Athens Biennale 2009 HEAVEN TV Spot #1
June 28, 2009a great feast
June 24, 2009mysterious ship
June 24, 2009Tea Makipaa’s beach piece
June 24, 2009Modernism and Eggs
June 24, 2009Monika in heaven
June 24, 2009Monika is performing live in the middle of the huge children’s playground in Flisvos Park. The black star on her robe makes you think that she is a true (dark) star, while her amazing songs and deep voice bring thrills to the audience. Monika’s captivating performance was part of “Heaven_Live” exhibition curated by Dimitris Papaioannou and Zafos Xagoraris.
new house
June 24, 2009Sandra Kranich’s fireworks
June 24, 2009NousGuide your personal guide to Heaven
June 24, 2009The Key to Heaven is Hi-Tec! The 2nd Athens Biennale, with the aid of its major sponsor Cosmote, created a novel way of experiencing contemporary art exhibitions, bringing engagement with contemporary art to the next level. Through a specially designed application by the austrian company NousGuide in collaboration with AB’s team, all visitors can use for free their very personal I-Phone guides throughout all 6 exhibitions. With hundreds of entries covering all works, visitors can learn much of the complex artistic practicies each artist deploys. Take your time to browse Heaven!
Malcolm McLaren’s premiere of new film “Paris”
June 24, 2009Malcolm McLaren’s new film “Paris” premiered in the Athens Biennale, as part of the “Splendid Isolation, Athens” exhibition curated by Cay Sophie Rabinowitz. McLaren shared his views on the city of Paris, romantic encounters, old TV commercials and much more in his own distinctive way. “Paris” will be screened at Faliron Village Cinemas.
“The Callas” performing in Heaven
June 24, 2009The Callas featuring the Callasettes in a truly magical midnight summer gig in Flisvos park.
the orange umbrellas of Barking Dogs United
June 24, 2009The work of Barking Dogs United forming the phrase “For Sale” with the use of orange beach umbrellas, part of the exhibition “Heaven_Live” curated by Dimitris Papaioannou and Zafos Xagoraris. The umbrellas are enjoyed daily and free of charge by hundreds of swimmers and sunbathers