Open Discussion: Thursday 11 April 2024 |18:00

The visual artist Elli Chrysidou is “starring” in the new production of the MOMus-Experimental Center for the Arts in Warehouse B1, in the port of Thessaloniki, with the provocative title “Art in social politics brings change”, from 11 until 18 April 2024. 

This installation/performance by the acclaimed and politically activist artist Elli Chrysidou consists of real images and drawings, video and audio, as well as diary pages, in a dialogue in which politics and art are invited to answer the Marcel Proust Questionnaire. This is a record and presentation of a lived experience of politics and art from 2010 to 2019 – a period Chrysidou was the Deputy Mayor of Culture at the Municipality of Thessaloniki – aiming to reaffirm the fundamental and crucial role of art in shaping politics and policy, in an action that seeks to empower the community.

The visual artist addresses this question and engages in a direct conversation with the city's recent past. 

Part of the exhibition is also the video-independent production under the title “A Commentary on Marcel Proust’s Questionnaire” (2024), based on a concept by Elli Chrysidou; she and Yiannis Boutaris answer Proust’s questions. Direction, filming, image editing, voice over: Eleni Stoumbou, Archaeologist – Director.

Curated by: Lydia Chatziiakovou, Christos Savvidis

Open Discussion 

Thursday 11 April 2024 | 18:00

Art that does not follow existing but sets new rules; that is a tool for participation in the commons, that poses questions about reality, power, love, peace, war, justice; that encompasses the world, documents everyday life and highlights contemporary issues that concern the community. This is the main concept of the open discussion to be held as a different opening event of the installation/performance “Αrt in social politics brings change”.

The event will be in Greek language. No translation is provided. 

Speakers

Yiannis Boutaris, Chemist Oenologist, former Mayor of Thessaloniki

Lydia Chatziiakovou, Curator – ArtBOX

Epaminondas Christophilopoulos, Chairman of the Management Board of MOMus, Unesco Chair on Futures Research – Foundation for Research and Technology 

Nikos Marantzidis, Professor, Departement of Balkan, Slavic & Oriental Studies – University of Macedonia

Charis Pechlivanidis, Director & PhD Candidate, School of Drama – Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Elena Stamatopoulou, Member of the Visual Artists Open Forum, theatrical collectiva “Facta Non Verba”, Teaching member School of Drama – Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Aris Stylianou, Professor, School of Political Sciences – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Coordination

Elli Chrysidou, Visual artist, former Deputy Mayor of Culture – Municipality of Thessaloniki