PHOTO: TopoAnthropologies
How does administrative subsumption give rise to the notion of cultural subordination? How is subjugation reinforced through the construction of the (usually exoticized) singularity of the provincial and the aestheticization of abandonment? These are a few of the issues –central to contemporary theoretical discourse regarding the centre-periphery relationship— that the collective venture – platform The Provinces Platform* attempts to thematise.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: The Provinces Platform Archive
The artworks of the group exhibition “Topo-anthropologies” aim to give arepresentative a picture as possible of the results of this project so far, which focuses on the constant redefinition of the term “province”. Most of the artists reside in the provinces, their relationship with what surrounds them is not passive, because in their places there is still empty space, a space that is perceived as neutral, exposed to all kinds of interventions. Behind all this is the need for survival, but it is often the tendency to display a cultural identity or an individuality. For her series “Heading West”, Eleni Mouzakiti says “The western and northwestern region of Greece were among the 20 poorest regions in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita in 2015, when I started photographing in this region. However, what attracted me to the area of Missolonghi and Amvrakikos Gulf in the first place was the distinctive landscape, the energy and the aura of the region and the fact that it reminded me of some Walker Evans’ and Stephen Shore’s photographs; or perhaps the morbid atmosphere of Visconti’s “Death in Venice”. Christos Rontogiannis’ work allows him to drive across the outskirts of Western Greece on a weekly basis and rediscover it. Given this opportunity on a daily basis, he observe the surrounding district of Amvrakikos and the changes it goes through. Rontogiannis connects with the people that live and work there. In this wider region je tend to photograph anything that bears the signs of human existence, be it direct and immediate or indirect and distant. Penelope Thomaidi’s series “Life Twists” is a story about self-determination and commitment into one’s dream. Pulcheria is a young woman, raised in Thessaloniki, who studied arts and music before becoming a professional live-stock breeder. She was her classmate in the Fine Arts School in Ioannina, northern Greece and the artist have always admired her free and creative spirit. Back then they spent hours listening to music, watching movies, speaking about art and relationships, travelling, dreaming, exchanging letters, cooking, growing up. After graduation they lost contact for 5 five years as each of them tried to find their ways. Back in 2010 Penelope Thomaidi’s left her doing mixed media art. When they met again in late 2015, together with her partner she was a professional livestock breeder. Since then Penelope Thomaidi have been visiting her frequently trying to capture fragments of the beauty of her commitment to her decision to follow her dream and build a way of life in direct relation with nature, a type of life reconciled with the circle of life and death. Erofili Gagani’s project “Eye for an eye” deals with the social phenomenon of vendetta that comes from the ancient antipeponthos, a religious order in many Mediterranean civilizations. In Crete though appears like first grade of state low since the age of Minoan Civilization. Vendetta compels as justice and culture the obligation to protect the family honor that has been offended and continues to exist at mountainous areas of centre-west Crete but is fortunately at degeneration, disconnected from the strict code of the old days. The theme was first approached by landscape photographs from husbandry territories where bleakness and isolation mostly obtain and afterwards by photographs that render meanings and feelings connected to the tradition of vendetta and express justice, deadlocks, escapism, exile and mourning, along with the deeper hope of a society that grows up and externalizes, these revenge murders finally come to an end.
* The Provinces Platform was founded in 2018 by Panos Charalampidis & Mary Chairetaki, Eleni Mouzakiti, Kostas Ioannidis, Christos Rontogiannis, Christos Sotiropoulos and Tasos Zoidis. In 2019 Penelope Thomaidi joined the team.
Participating Artists: Erofili Gaganim Theodosis Giannakidis, Tasos Zoidis, Penelope Thomaidi, Petros Kokkolis, Vaggelis Kousioras, Panagiotis Lambrou, Konstantina Mazaraki, Evi Mauroni, Eleni Mouzakiti, Lefteris Paraskevaidis, Christos Rontogiannis, Orestis Seferoglou, Christo Sotiropoulos, Sioti Tyroglou.
Photo: Christos Rontogiannis, from the series: Living in the West
Info: Curatorial Team: The Provinces Platform, National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation, Cultural Center of Thessaloniki, Villa Kapantzi, 108 Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, Thessaloniki, Greece, Duration: 6/10-4/12/2021, Days & Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 13:00-21:00, www.the-provinces.com
