OpenHouse Thessaloniki - 24th & 25th of November 2012

In 2012 Thessaloniki joined the Open House family and started organizing an event that will celebrate the city’s architecture and design. Open House is a simple but powerful concept: showcasing outstanding architecture for all to experience, completely for free. Open House initiatives invite everyone to explore and understand the value of a well-designed built environment. The Open House event started in London in 1992, gaining in the past 20 years a lot of appreciation and support. Today 21 cities are members of the Open House Worldwide family and host annually this event, including New York, Dublin, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Helsinki, Melbourne, Barcelona, Chicago, Rome, Lisbon etc. The first Open House event in Greece is taking place on 24th and 25th of November in Thessaloniki. Selected architectural sites will be open to the public during this weekend. The event is organised by the non-governmental and non-profit organisation Open House Greece, founded in 2012. Open House Thessaloniki aspires to expose the architectural treasures of this dynamic city, and make architecture accessible to all. Its aim is to contribute to the deeper understanding of urban design and public space, and enable all citizens and visitors to explore and understand the value of a well-designed built environment.

Open House Thessaloniki from senselens on Vimeo.

Visits to buildings will take place ​​in the following way: 1. Select from the program which buildings you are interested to visit 2. Check the opening hours 3. Visit the building 4. Entrance to the building is done regularly when group of people with specific number is formed 5. No pre-booking is needed 6. Admission is free to all

The visitors who will walk around the center of the city on 24 & 25 of November will meet the colored boxes that WHYNOT designed as a parallel project for Open House Thessaloniki, in order to mark the buildings that take part in Open House Thessaloniki event. Inside the first 12 boxes you will find a map with information about the buildings (address and visiting hours) and about the way to reach the next spot. A surprise is waiting for you inside the 13th box!

Above is the map of Thessaloniki showing the buildings included in the program.

Check out the changes that have been made on the visiting hours of the original program: Latomou Monastery (Osios David) New visiting hours for Saturday: 10.00-12.00 Saint Sophia Church New visiting hours for Saturday: 10.00-12.30 National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation Tours at 10.00, 11.30 and 13.00 New Waterfront of Thessaloniki New visiting hours for Saturday and Sunday: 10.00-19.00 B' Concert Hall New visiting hours for Saturday: 17.00-20.00 Residence building in Argonafton New visiting hours for Sunday: 11.00-13.00 "Aliki Perroti: student residence New visiting hours for Saturday: 10.00-17.00

Thessaloniki Graphic Design 1980-2009

 

Click on the image to see the details of this extraordinary show 

For non-Greek speakers:

Tonight, at the Centre for Contemporary Art of Thessaloniki, Red Creative presents their book about Thessaloniki's graphic design history from 1980 - 2009, as a reminder of their 20 year anniversary. The event begins a 19.30

There will be a seminar dedicated to it on Saturday 11th of December, from 11:00-15:00 at the Centre. Speakers are Dr. of Typography and Graphic Communication Klimis Mastoridis, designer and typogrpher Aggelos Bakas and publisher Manolis Savvidis.

Tomorrow, 9th of December, a poster show accompanying the edition opens at the Centre, lasting only 4 days (closes on Sunday 12th of December). The show is curated by the Centre's director, Syrago Tsiara.

Container - art, activities, space, now opening in Thessaloniki

Container is a new art space at Nikiforou Foka Str. 8 in downtown Thessaloniki. The opening will take place on the 23rd of March with a group exhibition in which contemporary artists will participate with paintings, sculpture, instalaltions, performances etc. This show will last until the 10th of May.

Apart from an exhibition space, Container's ambition is to develop as an active nucleus in the art world and as a point of reference for art events, establishing a more direct contact and communication between artists and the public, with special thematic evenings and hommages organized in collaboration with other entities. Their interest is also focused into other art forms like video, theatre, music, dance, photography, publications etc. They intend to present them in every given opportunity because "art in every form serves the same agony". They are open to suggestions and ideas and wish that Container becomes a space for anyone interested to communicate with the public through art.

The participating artists are: Christos Venetis, Nikos Evangelopoulos, Katerina Iordanidou, Nikos Kokkalis, Vassiliki Koskiniotou, Valentino Marengo, Evangelia Bantiaka, Vassilis Botoulas, Dimitris Notaras, Theofanis Nouskas, Iordanis Roumeliotis, Eri Skyrgianni, Anneta Spanoudaki, Iordanis Stylidis, Pavlos Hampidis.

Mirό of Majorca

The exhibition Mirό of Majorca was hosted from the 9th of June 2009 till the 7th of February 2010 at the Teloglion Foundation of Art in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is now moving to Athens, where it will be exhibited at the Hellenic Cosmos "Theatron", Ismini Hall, from today, February 22nd, till the 30th of May 2010.

I went to see this show while it was still here in Thessaloniki. I was surprised by the bad design of the exhibition itself. I did not expect to see, in 2010, in a renowned Art Foundation of our country, such a significant artist exhibited in such an elementary way.His works were simply put on display grouped in periods, without text to accompany them showing what each period meant to the artist and connecting it to contemporary art and history.

The signs with the information for each work of art were placed on the ground, making every visitor taller than 1,50m (i.e. most of us) struggle to read it. The fact that they were made of transparent plexiglass did not help of course.

The lighting was bad, non descript. The sculptures suffered particularly of this, arranged in the middle of the biggest room and simply spot lighted without any thought of how the shadows would play both on the sculpture and around it.

A series of works were about sketches and drawings the artist made about various large scale works, either paintings or sculpture, prominently displayed in various parts of the world, most of them orders by municipalities, countries, rich individuals, companies. What struck me is that not a single photograph of the finished art was displayed, for any of the above.

There was a room dedicated to the work Miro did inspired by the theatre play Roi Yby. They had a single opportunity to make a very theatrical room to inspire and guide people to why he was so connected to this piece of theatre. They missed. The show also missed how his art influenced and came to represent the national identity of Spain.

A very positive aspect of the show was the exhibition of special copies of some of the paintings made for blind people - I had never seen that in a major show in Greece and was pleasantly surprised. And another interesting set up was the exhibition of some artefacts, small furniture and stuff from his studio, on a stage with a panoramic photo of the actual place as a background - but then again, it remained a plain and simple display of objects, not engaging the visitor in any way.

The graphic design of the exhibition's brochure and posters were excellent: they were done by Rooster Design, a great and much lauded graphic design studio from Thessaloniki. The exhibition is organized by Teloglion Art Foundation in cooperation with the Pilar i Joan Miro Foundation of Majorka - all of the artwork comes from there. 

Update: The Archive Episode 2: First day photos

I attended The Archive: Episode Two opening at the Archive space of Thessaloniki. The set up was brilliant, a single shape running around more than half the space, made of many separate smaller shapes of PVC laser cut and printed with the images and drawings of the three architects that designed the Central Square of the Municipality of Thermi: Dimitris Kontaxakis, Maria-Eleni Kosmidou and Spiros I. Papadimitriou. The last day of the event is today, so anyone who has not seen it yet, it is your last chance (access to Archive members only, but you can still see it from the outside if you are not a member).

A projection was also made on the undulating surface.

On the small digital screens one could see a slideshow of the preparation for the event.

The image that greets passers-by from the shop-window.

Another series of photographs of the square. The little blue LED light strip on top of the exhibition surface was an interesting finishing touch.

Dimitris Kontaxakis, Maria-Eleni Kosmidou, Vassilios P. Bartzokas, Spiros I. Papadimitriou, Korina Filoxenidou and Katerina Kotzia

Lots of architects, designers and people that love design and architecture came to the event.

THE ARCHIVE EPISODE 02: Moving Surfaces, Generate Public Space

Episode 02: “MOVING SURFACES generate public space” is inspired by the redesign of the Central Square of the Municipality of Thermi, one of the most interesting urban design projects realised in Greece.

The dynamic form of the square is the result of the use of specific digital animation techniques. Its form is a new material expression, a result of the dynamic behaviours and actions performed. The informal architecture of the oblique and the imbalance is tempting its users to interact with its folded surfaces and provokes new behaviours and unexpected programs. The project has recently received a Distinction at the Architectural Awards 2008 of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture.

In the hybrid enclosed space of the Archive the architects of the square, Dimitris Kontaxakis, Maria-Eleni Kosmidou and Spiros I. Papadimitriou are going to present an installation, through which they will explore a different way of exhibiting a built architectural project. The installation is a deep surface that embeds the required information for the exhibition and at the same time becomes an exhibit itself by generating a new spatial experience in the interior of Archive.

The opening of the exhibition will give an opportunity to the members of The Archive for another creative meeting. Carteco, the company behind The Archive will regularly renew this appointment through the hosting of interesting architectural events and projects.

The Archive Episodes is a project by Katerina Kotzia and Korina Filoxenidou

EPISODE 02:
MOVING SURFACES
GENERATE PUBLIC SPACE
Opening: Tuesday, 23/06/09 at 20:00 at The Archive, Mitropoleos St. 127, Thessaloniki
24/06/09 – 25/07/09 (access to members only)


Photos: Giorgis Gerolympos

Thessaloniki International Book Fair is opening tomorrow!

A grand celebration... an established meeting place... a unique experience... every May… in Thessaloniki... the 6th Thessaloniki International Book Fair.

The 6th Thessaloniki International Book Fair is awaiting the arrival of thousands of visitors with much and great anticipation. The wealth of books published in Greece… the presence of Greek and foreign writers and professionals… hundreds of events for children and adults… tantamount to a very special event, to be held at HELEXPO’s facilities, which cover an area of 10,000 sq. m. There will be more than 500 publishers from 40 different countries (China and India will be represented at the Fair for the very first time), 70 of the biggest names in writing, and of course, thousands of books for every preference…

Thessaloniki Book Fair (TBF) takes place from the 28th until the 31st of May at HELEXPO Exhibition Centre (Halls 13 and 15). It offers visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest releases of publishers from all over the world.

* Take your time to roam around the publishers’ stands.

* Choose from a varied programme of cultural events.

* Join in discussions with writers from Greece and abroad, and ask them to sign their books for you.

This year’s Fair will have:

1. A thematic exhibition, entitled “Books and History”, featuring books on all the different periods of Greek history (11 units), visual material, rare publications and manuscripts, documentaries, presentations and various events organized by cultural bodies and organizations;

Poster from the Balkan War era.

2. Germany, the guest of honour, with its impressive pavilion and some of the country’s most important cultural figures;

3. A Children’s Corner, for the younger visitors, offering a series of events featuring their beloved writers and illustrators;

4. A Magazine Stand, featuring literary and commentary journals;

5. A Literary Cafe (Hall 13), a meeting point and a place of relaxation for both visitors and professionals, where they can enjoy a free cup of coffee (kindly sponsored by Domingo).

6. A Foreign Language Bookstore

Also, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture has dedicated the year 2009 to the poet Giannis Ritsos (“Giannis Ritsos 2009 – 100 years since his birth”). EKEBI has therefore planned a special ode to Giannis Ritsos, featuring the mobile exhibition on the poet’s life and work, spotlighting both the originals and translations of his work. On Saturday 30 May (20:00), a concert will be held in the main square of the Fair, with a great festive atmosphere and songs by Mikis Theodorakis, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Christos Leontis and Panagiotis Bousalis.

The Fair is organized by the National Book Centre of Greece (ΕΚΕΒΙ), in co-operation with the Greek Ministry of Culture, HELEXPO and the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Publishers and Booksellers (PΟΕΒ). The Fair is a project co-financed by the European Union (ERDF) and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (EU Culture Program).

The opening ceremony of the Book Fair 2009 will take place on Thursday, 28 May 2009, at 7:00 p.m. (see invitation above)

Admission is free.

Check the program here! (Greek only I'm afraid). EKEBI has a blog too, so check that out as well!

As every year since it began, the company I work for, Tetragon, has designed and built all the stand that are related to EKEBI: their own, the thematic exhibition stand (Books and History), the Children's Corner and the Literary Cafe. Photographs and more on the next days! See you there!

Award for stand design at Infacoma 2009!

The stand of Exalco for the Infacoma 2009 exhibition (designed by me) was awarded as one of the best stands of the show. I am really happy for this as is the client. Below are photos of the actual stand and a couple of coloured renderings of the submitted proposal.

Tetragon Ltd. also got another design award for the stand we did for Doral/Alustar. My contribution there was preparing the soundtrack for the ambient we created for the client: the forest sounds that complimented the big prints of woods and birds graphically illustrated added to the general impression of nature and relaxation. Check some photos below:

Exhibition about the Press in German occupied Greece

On November 15th, at the exhibitional space of the Educational Institute of the Union of Daily Newspapers of Macedonia-Thrace Editors (1 Morgenthau Str., Thessaloniki), the exhibition of documents titled "National Resistance 1941-1944, Illegal Press in Northern Greece" was inaugurated.

During the extraordinary conditions of the triple occupation (German, Italian and Bulgarian), the resistance newspapers were set up under absolute secrecy and plotting. Underground spaces were turned into secret printing shops and within the most impossible circumstances, reporters and typographers worked endangering their lives. With spare materials and improvised machinery, they produced varied resistance material like leaflets, brochures and declarations.

The distributors were important too, thinking of every possible method to avoid discovery. The information for the news content of the publications were derived from voice radio and foreign radio broadcasts and the articles aimed at improving the people's morale and reporting the criminal activity of the occupation forces. Two of the most important newspapers of the era in Macedonia were "Eleftheria" (Freedom) and "Laiki Foni" (Popular Voice), and many were the personalities that contributed to the resistance press.

The visitor of this exhibition is transported not only in the era but also the conditions into which the people of illegal printing shops worked. An underground atmosphere, small and under-lit spaces, separated with improvised structures, and in a corner, under the lamp light, an illegal printing press continuous its work in silence.

On the ground, a table set up with printing tools, the worn out shoes and a newspaper hidden in the jacket of a distributor. The colours red, black and brown, rough and worn materials, raw pictures and words. On the opposite side of the resistance press stands the other side: the Nazi-friendly press. And all this taking place under the shadow of the conqueror...

The show will stay open for two months. And you know what? It is free!!! So do not miss it! I had a small part in all of this: One of the displays is about Manolis Anagnostakis, the famous Greek poet, as he played a part in the resistance and particularly the press. So I had to watch an interview he gave to Greek National Television many years ago, find the parts of it relevant to the exhibition and supervise the final video, which is looped on the only screen on display:

Contributors:
Organizing committee: Christos Zafiris, Elias Koutsoukos, Dimitris Dozis, Yiannis Kotsifos
Design and execution: Tetragon Ltd. - Supervisor: Eleni Vretzaki
Graphic Design: Thanassis Georgiou
Texts: Christos Zafiris


The text above was originally written by architect Zoi Evangelopoulou and translated by me.

All photos by the wonderful Dinos Mihail.

Miss Murphy, I'm Overpowered!

How can one describe the sheer force of this woman? How can one even begin to describe the diva herself? After having missed her Synch Festival appearance (Monika as well) last summer, I was determined not to miss seeing Roisin Murphy live when the opportunity came. And it did. On the eve of my name day celebration. And it was the best gift ever!

The concert started with the support act, Marsheaux, a local electronica band, perfectly fitting with the main act. But with everyone waiting for Roisin to appear, they had no chance. Their set was great and they deserve your attention. At one point Roisin passed in front of us, entering the venue (I was at the front line with Cookiebasher and Erisabetsu). Excitement grew tenfold, and soon the Marsheaux ladies left the stage.

The band soon appeared, taking their places, the wonderful ladies doing the vocals entered the stage with a robotic pace and, lo and behold, Roisin entered after them, causing delirium in the adoring crowd. She started with Overpowered, her first single from her latest album of the same name, wearing one of her eccentric surrealistic outfits as usual (the rack with her outfits is always on stage and she changes between songs or during them, making it a part of the spectacle - superb!).

She was so close to us it felt very intimate - I was under the impression she was singing especially for me! A human dynamo, singing, dancing, performing, Roisin gave her best self to us and we gave back love and adoration - no one stopped dancing throughout!


The middle of the concert was kind of acoustic, not in an unplugged kind of style but she performed some songs without heavy drums and beats, making them even more special. And having her sit in front of you singing is simply breathtaking! Shaking her hand was obviously exciting!

She performed not only her own songs (three from her first album, Ruby Blue) but also some of her former band, Moloko: It's Nothing, I Want You, Dr. Zee, I Can't Help Myself, Pretty Bridges, The ID) and the amazing Slave to Love (by Bryan Ferry) which was featured in a Gucci ad.

Extra kudos must got to the amazing band of hers and of course the two ladies doing back up vocals and dancing with her, they were superb (special mention must go to the drummer!).

After the concert, we were lucky to meet Roisin in person - she was very kind and accepting, despite having performed a very exhausting concert and signed the set list for me and Cookie. So, while others post Kalomira autographed posters (;-P), here is the Roisin setlist with her autograph and kiss!!! And, as the venue later opened as a club, she stayed on and danced with her group - awesome!


All photos by Stratos Bacalis.