{"id":2554,"date":"2024-02-06T10:16:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T08:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/curated-work-george-skianis\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T16:38:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T13:38:43","slug":"curatorial-george-skianis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/curatorial-george-skianis\/","title":{"rendered":"Curatorial | George Skianis"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; wpex_bg_overlay=&#8221;color&#8221; wpex_post_thumbnail_bg=&#8221;true&#8221; wpex_fixed_bg=&#8221;fixed&#8221; wpex_bg_overlay_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; wpex_bg_overlay_opacity=&#8221;0.45&#8243;][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; min_height=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_column]<style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303a21e{color:var(--wpex-on-accent);font-size:70px;font-family:Noto Serif;font-weight:800;}.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303a21e.vcex-heading:hover{color:var(--wpex-accent-alt);}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-text-2xl wpex-font-normal wpex-m-auto wpex-max-w-100 wpex-block wpex-text-left vcex_6abfbf303a21e\"><a href=\"#intro\" class=\"local-scroll-link wpex-no-underline wpex-inherit-color\" target=\"_self\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Curatorial<\/span><\/a><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303a9da{width:700px;color:var(--wpex-on-accent);font-size:50px;font-family:Noto Serif;font-weight:800;}.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303a9da.vcex-heading:hover{color:var(--wpex-accent-alt);}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-text-2xl wpex-font-normal wpex-m-auto wpex-max-w-100 wpex-block wpex-text-left alignleft vcex_6abfbf303a9da\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">George Skianis<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wpex-clear\"><\/div><style>.vcex-icon.vcex_6abfbf303acd4{font-size:80px;}.vcex-icon.vcex_6abfbf303acd4 .vcex-icon-wrap{color:var(--wpex-on-accent);}.vcex-icon.vcex_6abfbf303acd4 .vcex-icon-wrap:hover{color:var(--wpex-accent-alt);}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-icon vcex-module vcex-icon-normal wpex-float-left wpex-mr-20 vcex_6abfbf303acd4\"><a href=\"#intro\" class=\"vcex-icon-link wpex-no-underline local-scroll-link\"><div class=\"vcex-icon-wrap wpex-inline-flex wpex-items-center wpex-justify-center wpex-leading-none wpex-transition-colors wpex-duration-200\"><span class=\"ticon ticon-arrow-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1722855870291{margin-top: 70px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column]<style>.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c .vcex-navbar-link{text-decoration:none;}.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c .vcex-navbar-link:hover{text-decoration:none;}.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c a.vcex-navbar-link{padding:10px;color:var(--wpex-accent-alt);font-family:Noto Serif;}.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c a.vcex-navbar-link:hover,.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c a.vcex-navbar-link.active{color:var(--wpex-on-accent);background:var(--wpex-accent-alt);}.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c a.vcex-navbar-link:active,.vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c a.vcex-navbar-link.active{background:var(--wpex-accent);}.is-sticky > .vcex-navbar.vcex_6abfbf303af9c{background-color:var(--wpex-on-accent)!important;}<\/style><nav class=\"vcex-navbar vcex-module vcex-navbar-sticky wpex-transition-opacity wpex-duration-300 vcex-navbar-sticky-offset wpex-mb-0 vcex_6abfbf303af9c\"><div class=\"vcex-navbar-inner wpex-clr wpex-last-mr-0\"><a href=\"#intro\" class=\"vcex-navbar-link vcex-navbar-link--2387 wpex-inline-block wpex-float-left wpex-mr-20 wpex-mb-5 theme-txt-link local-scroll hvr hvr-shadow has-bg-hover\"><span class=\"vcex-navbar-link-text\">\u0395\u03c0\u03b9\u03bc\u03b5\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1<\/span><\/a><a href=\"#installations\" class=\"vcex-navbar-link vcex-navbar-link--2376 wpex-inline-block wpex-float-left wpex-mr-20 wpex-mb-5 theme-txt-link local-scroll hvr hvr-shadow has-bg-hover\"><span class=\"vcex-navbar-link-text\">\u0395\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ad\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b3\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/a><a href=\"#exhibitions\" class=\"vcex-navbar-link vcex-navbar-link--2377 wpex-inline-block wpex-float-left wpex-mr-20 wpex-mb-5 theme-txt-link local-scroll hvr hvr-shadow has-bg-hover\"><span class=\"vcex-navbar-link-text\">\u0395\u03ba\u03b8\u03ad\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/nav>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_spacing=&#8221;60&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1722597764920{margin-top: 50px !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;intro&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]<span style=\"font-size: 24px;\"><strong>Since 2004, within the framework of the long-standing Aeschylia Festival, visual arts interventions\u2014first at the Kronos factory and subsequently at the Old Oil Mill of Eleusis\u2014undoubtedly placed another landmark on the country\u2019s artistic map.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nAt the same time, the visual arts interventions in these spaces established a meaningful framework for how the ruins of our industrial heritage ought to be utilized.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;2325&#8243; css_animation=&#8221;fadeInRight&#8221; img_hover=&#8221;shrink&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;]<style>.vcex-toggle.vcex_6abfbf303c965 .vcex-toggle__heading{font-weight:700;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-toggle vcex-module vcex_6abfbf303c965\" data-animate=\"true\" data-duration=\"300\"><div class=\"vcex-toggle__heading\"><a href=\"#read-more\" class=\"vcex-toggle__trigger wpex-flex wpex-items-center wpex-transition-colors\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"read-more\"><div class=\"vcex-toggle__icon wpex-mr-30\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"vcex-toggle__icon-open wpex-flex wpex-flex-col wpex-items-center\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"1.5em\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"1.5em\" fill=\"currentColor\"><path d=\"M0 0h24v24H0V0z\" fill=\"none\"\/><path d=\"M24 24H0V0h24v24z\" fill=\"none\" opacity=\".87\"\/><path d=\"M16.59 8.59L12 13.17 7.41 8.59 6 10l6 6 6-6-1.41-1.41z\"\/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"vcex-toggle__icon-close wpex-flex wpex-flex-col wpex-items-center\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"1.5em\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"1.5em\" fill=\"currentColor\" class=\"vcex-toggle__icon-close\"><path d=\"M0 0h24v24H0V0z\" fill=\"none\"\/><path d=\"M12 8l-6 6 1.41 1.41L12 10.83l4.59 4.58L18 14l-6-6z\"\/><\/svg><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"vcex-toggle__title\">Read more<\/h3><\/a><\/div><div id=\"read-more\" class=\"vcex-toggle__content wpex-last-mb-0 wpex-my-10 wpex-clr\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thus, the site itself becomes both the primary catalyst and the canvas for the creation of the artwork. In a tribute, Stephen Antonakos, following his first encounter with the Old Oil Mill, notes:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c&#8230;I loved the open square with the fig tree\u2014its age, its strength, and its tenderness. The grand, unified sum of all these elements from any sequence, angle, or viewing distance was irresistible to me. Seeing the site for the very first time, I was completely captivated&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u0397 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ae \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd \u03b5\u03b3\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03bd \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03af\u03c7\u03b8\u03b7\u03ba\u03b5 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03ae: \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2- \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03ad\u03c7\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2. \u03a0\u03c1\u03cc\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c0\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03be\u03b5\u03c6\u03cd\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03bf \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b5\u03b3\u03b3\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03ba\u03b8\u03ad\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03bd, \u03cc\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c5\u03c7\u03bd\u03ac \u03c7\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c4\u03b7 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03bf\u03c7\u03ae \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03c5\u03c0\u03cc\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c0\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1, \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b9\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03c4\u03c5\u03c0\u03af\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ad\u03ba\u03c6\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is true that today\u2019s world\u2014the world of mass media\u2014is by far the largest and most effective machine for producing images, far surpassing today\u2019s art system in both scale and efficacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this context, as Boris Groys wrote, the artist exists as today&#8217;s &#8216;last manual laborer&#8217;\u2014simultaneously responsible for conceiving, designing, and physically producing the artwork. Thus, they stand little chance of pitting their art against the overwhelming power of these image-generating machines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We sought to offer space and the means of realization to this &#8216;last manual laborer,&#8217; aiming to create an enduring work\u2014so that the public, walking through the body and spirit of each artist, might gradually forge a relationship with Art rooted in lived, rather than mediated, experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The history of visual arts exhibitions at the Aeschylia Festival over roughly the past fifteen years is, I would argue, concurrently a history of contemporary installation art in Greece.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists such as Vana Xenou, Theodoros, and Kalliopi Lemos charted the initial steps of the institution\u2019s history, addressing themes such as the sacred in art and the symbols of the Eleusinian myth; the industrial site and its reconstitution as a cultural asset; and the sanctity of a space defined by female symbols, upon which an altar of wrecked migrant boats was erected. This marked the first phase, where the venue functioned as a shell and a symbolic substrate to host works conceived and produced within the artists\u2019 studios.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Subsequently, nearly all works\u2014across the greater part of their exhibition\u2014became site-specific creations produced in situ. This encompassed not merely the physical fabric of the space as an artistic element, but also the social context embedded in the human fabric of the city. Marios Spiliopoulos with Traces of People, Stefanos Tsivopoulos with The Future Starts Here, Michelangelo Pistoletto with Third Paradise, and the organized procession of the Venus of the Rags through the city&#8217;s streets staged by Mary Zygouri, all epitomize works whose primary raw material is the intangible resonance of Eleusis&#8217;s history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finally, in the works of Leda Papaconstantinou, Diohandi, Stephen Antonakos, Nikos Navridis, Tarek Atoui, Eleni Panouklia, and Danae Stratou, there is a marked insistence on the viewer\u2019s literal presence. The spectator enters the artwork, engaging with all their senses; beyond sight alone, their very body reacts as they listen, feel, and even experience fear\u2014thereby partaking in the unmediated, visceral experience offered by the totality of the installation.<\/span><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row local_scroll_id=&#8221;installations&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1722851594350{margin-top: 50px !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;installations&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:30px;\"><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303cf3f{color:var(--wpex-accent);font-size:60px;font-family:Noto Serif;font-weight:700;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-text-2xl wpex-font-normal wpex-m-auto wpex-max-w-100 wpex-block vcex_6abfbf303cf3f\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Art installations<\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303d27a{color:rgba(110,141,175,0.58);font-size:36px;font-family:Noto Serif;font-weight:700;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-text-2xl wpex-font-normal wpex-m-auto wpex-max-w-100 wpex-block vc_custom_1722850614180 vcex_6abfbf303d27a\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Aeschylia Festival<\/span><\/div><div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:30px;\"><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1722855898109{margin-top: 50px !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;exhibitions&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:30px;\"><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6abfbf303fdc4{color:var(--wpex-accent);font-size:60px;font-family:Noto Serif;font-weight:700;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-text-2xl wpex-font-normal wpex-m-auto wpex-max-w-100 wpex-block vcex_6abfbf303fdc4\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Exhibitions<\/span><\/div><div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:30px;\"><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; wpex_bg_overlay=&#8221;color&#8221; wpex_post_thumbnail_bg=&#8221;true&#8221; wpex_fixed_bg=&#8221;fixed&#8221; wpex_bg_overlay_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; wpex_bg_overlay_opacity=&#8221;0.45&#8243;][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; min_height=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1722855870291{margin-top: 70px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_spacing=&#8221;60&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1722597764920{margin-top: 50px !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;intro&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]Since 2004, within the framework of the long-standing Aeschylia Festival, visual arts interventions\u2014first at the Kronos factory and subsequently at the Old Oil Mill of Eleusis\u2014undoubtedly placed another landmark on the country\u2019s artistic map. At the same&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":632,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2554","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2554"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2565,"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2554\/revisions\/2565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.busart.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}