Balkans Today. The present of a wounded landscape is a pop-up photo exhibition that will be held in different locations around the Exarcheia neighbourhood in Athens, Greece during 9-18 October 2020 in the context of the 3rd Balkan Can Kino Film Symposium, organized by BCK with the support of the Goethe-Institut Athen.
Despite the fact that in Greece we share a lot of traditions and cultural elements with the rest of the Balkan countries, we actually know very little about how contemporary life looks there. Urged by this crucial observation, we decided to organize this exhibition, aiming to start a dialogue and to strengthen the ties between the Balkan countries within a contemporary cultural context.
The exhibition features 26 photographers from 12 countries, with photo series that both document the present and comment on the history of the wider Balkan region. Through an open call, we looked for works that would go beyond the established stereotypes of representation, helping us to identify all the contradictory elements that coexist in the Balkan Peninsula.
In order to avoid indoors gatherings and wanting instead to wander around the city, to rediscover its different spots and its inhabitants, we chose to present the works on various shop windows in the neighborhood of Exarcheia (bookstores, cafes and other shops on Kallidromiou, Charilaou Trikoupi, Zoodochou Pigis, Didotou and Tsamadou streets). We invite visitors to discover the exhibition – as well as the neighborhood – by following a specially designed map that will be available in the exhibition spaces and online on the website of Balkan Can Kino.
The latest public health prevention measures made us cancel our plans for an opening party with open-air screenings. Instead, all the pictures of the selected projects will be displayed on the shop window of a collaborating space and will be visible from the sidewalk on dates and times that will be announced soon. The exhibition’s profile on instagram will be open for discussions and information starting today, while the full program and the map will soon be uploaded on Balkan Can Kino’s website and posted on social media.
Participating photographers (alphabetically)
Kostis ARGYRIADIS (GR), Aggelos BARAI (AL), Petrut CALINESCU (RO), Laura CNOSSEN (NL), Nicholas CONSTANT (UK), Dan COURT (UK), Sylvan DAHLGRUN (SE), Vedad DIVOVIC (BIH), Jeanne FRANK (FR), Hannnes JUNG (DE), Ilir TSOUKO (AL), Babis KOUGEMITROS (GR) & Vassilis KONSTANTINOU (GR), Jacopo LANDI (IT), Thodoris NIKOLAOU (GR), Madalin MARIANUT (RO), Antigoni PAPANTONI (GR), Kosmas PAVLIDIS (GR), Ioanna SAKELLARAKI (GR), Orestis SEFEROGLOU (GR), Nick StOEGGER (US), Louiza VRADI (GR), Patrick WACK (FR), Dominik WOJCIECHOWSKI (PL), Rafael YAGHOBZADEH (FR), Lila ZOTOU (GR)
Exhibition spaces
Agra Publications, Εrma Publishing House, Indiktos Publication House, Εkdoseis ton Synadelfon, Futura Books, Thaleia’s Bookbindery, Old Books, Aspalathos Art Space, Εllinika Kaloudia, Everyday a Story, Αthinaio Café, Creperie Au Grand Zinc, Βourbon Cafe Bar, Mystic Pizza, Chartes Cafe Bar, Luthier Art, Dirty Noise, Art Rat Records, Old School Records
Duration
9-18 Οctober 2020
Visiting hours will depend from to each store’s working hours
Curated by
Evi Stamou
Penelope Thomaidi
Contact & Further Information
Tel. +30 6973 99 40 27, +30 6972 55 86 30
Email: photo.balkancankino@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/balkanstoday/
Co-organised by
Balkan Can Kino
What If Design
Sponsored by
Baobab Productions
