INTERVIEW: Alexandros Maganiotis & Nickolas Moore

The most interesting and exciting process of an exhibition is during the set-up, when the curators have in front of them the artworks they have chosen. These moments a new journey really begins, there a new artwork is created, that whoever has lived it, wants to live it again and again. So, on the occasion of the group exhibition “Every Time We Say Goodbye” in The Project Gallery with the participation of 27 Greek and British artists we did the reverse of the usual visits, during the set up of the exhibition we took exclusive photos for our readers and talked to the two curators, Alexandros Maganiotis and Nickolas Moore, for its thremmatology and problematics, because a lot has changed since 2019, the year that the first part of the exhibition presented in London at the Stash Gallery, which is housed in a former church, until today that the second part of the exhibition is on show in The Project Gallery.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Dimitris Lempesis

Alexandros Maganiotis

Before we discuss about the exhibition “Every Time We Say Goodbye”, we would like you to tell us when and how your acquaintance and friendship with Nicholas Moore began?

We first met with Nick back in 2008 and two years after we traveled together to Japan as we were taking part in an exhibition for Lafcadio Hearn, it was a three-week trip during which we really bonded and our initial acquaintance turned to a real friendship with a more substantial communication and exchange of ideas.

As we know, you don’t only like, but you are seeking exchange of art exhibitions between countries. The first part of this exhibition took place in London in 2019 and the second in Athens now, as had happened respectively with the exhibition “Canone Doppio”, which respectively took place in Athens and Palermo. How important are these exchanges for Greek artists and what do they gain from these collaborations?

As the artistic director of The Project Gallery I find this exchange very important, also the dialogue between the artists on an international level. I am pro extroversion for us Greeks, but I am also very interested in all the different ideas that artists bring from abroad. I think is the way to move forward and not stay still.

In 2019, the first part of the exhibition entitled ‘’Don’t leave me this way’’ focused on the idea of Brexit, took place in the Stash Gallery in London, which is housed in a former church. Something that happens very often in Europe is the change of use of different spaces and in fact Churches or Abbeys are turned into exhibition spaces. You have a dual capacity, Architect and Artis, what was your experience from the space.

The space of the Stash Gallery is really very special, from outside one sees a gothic church in the area of Whitechapel and then he finds the passage towards the basement of the church, where there is also the artist club and the exhibition space, it is like discovering a secret sacred space. I instantly felt familiar similarities with our space and through our work we got to know each other. It was a really wonderful experience that I hope will be repeated soon.

“Every Time We Say Goodbye” is the second part of the exhibition that is on show in The Project Gallery in Athens. During these three years, many things have changed in our lives of due to the pandemic, in the life and the work of the artists? What messages do the 27 Greek & English participating artists want to convey through their work?

I feel all this that we experienced during the pandemic would be credible only as a science fiction scenario two years ago. What I feel now is that everyone is more eager to communicate, both artists and audience. There is an excitement and I dare say the artists want to show their best work. It is crucial to physically meet and exhibit our work, live contact is irreplaceable, it’s very dynamic so it can trigger new ideas and dialogue through art can generate new friendships.

Nickolas Moore

Mr. Moore, as we know your relationship with Greece is long, would you like to tell us when you first came and how you stayed? You have stayed for over 20 years in different parts of Greece, from what we know.

I had studied Zoology at university but was painting all the time, although I had had some success at getting into shows in London, such as the Royal Academy and studying life drawing and printmaking in Colchester, I knew I needed further tuition. Another artist staying in Crete at the time suggested I ask John if I could work with him, and he agreed. Later I came to live in Syros for 11 years with my partner of the time and then Athens for about 2 years.

What does Greece mean to you and what the Greek Artists?

I had been obsessed with archaeology and mythology as a child, and the books of Gerald Durrell (hence studying Zoology), so Greece was always in my mind as a place to go. As an immigrant to the country I thought/think it is important to be part of the culture, so I was keen to meet and become part of the local art scene.

With Alexandros Maganiotis, who apart from being an artist too, you have a long-term friendship, both of you are curating the exhibition “Every Time We Say Goodbye” at the The Project Gallery which is the second part of the exhibition that was on show in The Stash Gallery in London in 2019 entitled “Do not leavemethisway”. How did the idea start and how did it evolve?

I was horrified by the whole Brexit debacle – I cannot identify with insular Britain or any form of Jingoism. I knew if it went through there would be all sorts of logistic nightmares. I had spent at that point 20-something years living in Greece and travelling in Europe since I was a foetus and I didn’t want to be parted from it. I belong to an arts club in London called Vout-O-Reenee’s. The artist and co-director Sophie Parkin and I were commiserating over the Brexit debacle and we decided it would be good to have an exhibition, on the theme, at the attached Stash Gallery. I suggested contacting Alex and arranging a touring exhibition.

What has changed all this time, froth the first part of the exhibition till the second and how the Brexit, which seemed and is a big issue, has been replaced by a bigger one, the CONVID -19 pandemic?

The show was supposed to open in London in November 2019, which it did, and then travel to Greece in March 2020. However I got very sick with COVID about two weeks before the opening and was sending messages saying I thought I had it and no way could I travel, then lockdown happened, and it was impossible. In the midst of the COVID Pandemic, Brexit had happened already in London, so the theme of the show had morphed into reactions to loss and hopeful reunification. This of course became amplified by the COVID situation and also when bringing the show to Greece, the subject of the Parthenon Marbles came to the fore for some of the artists.

As a British artist how lives in Greece, what does Brexit mean for you and what difficulties do you face?

Well the freedom of movement of both the artist and the work.

During our visit in the exhibition, we noticed that the English artists express a special love for the Greek Culture with direct or indirect influences. Is this true?

Well yes and I’m sure some will be more influenced having been here.

What is your opinion about Greek artists and the contemporary art scene?

Have been away from the Greek scene for a couple of years, so ask me again in two weeks. Then I will have had a chance to catch up with the new ‘Berlin’. Bet you are all sick of being called that, you are not the new Berlin you are Athens!

Download Greek Version here.

Info: Curators: Alexandros Maganiotis & Nickolas Moore, The Project Gallery, 3 Normanou str., Athens, Greece, Duration: 12/5-4/6/202, Days & Hours: Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-23:00, The Project Gallery

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© Interview-Efi Michalarou
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