Vlassis Caniaris.
In Contrapunto.
13 May – 19 July 2009
organized by ITYS,
hosted by:
National Bank
Cultural Foundation
Eynard Mansion
Agiou Konstantinou 20
GR – 10431 Athens
Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
& Tue/Wed/Fri 6-8 p.m.
ITYS
Institute for Contemporary Art and Thought
5, Xanthippou Street, 5th floor,
10675 Athens, Greece
Vlassis Caniaris, 1928 born in Athens, lives and works in Athens.
For about three decades, largely between the 50s and 80s, the drive behind Caniaris’ work would not come to a halt as he took ever bolder steps to free himself from artistic limitations or expectations, and to express himself openly and critically about the conditions of his time. Caniaris did not compromise. He knew art was a way of communicating not of pleasing. His quest was passionate, both in the desire to be experimental and to be political without turning to the sensationalism of activism. It was heartfelt, and honest, and demanding, as is typical for post-war artists who have seen misery, poverty, and violence from close up but also compassion, solidarity, and survival. To look at his works today – the paintings, the newspaper and other collages, the small sculptures, the wall reliefs, the larger figures – one is moved by the aesthetic sense that is imbued into the gathering of materials and – particularly in these shaky post-riot times in Athens – by their innate sense for justice, for openness, shortly for basic values.
The 80s and the 90s saw a growth of the art market and with it, increasing cynicism, putting to the test the role and the meaning of art. Here a younger generation of international and Greek artists take over in dialogue with the works by Caniaris. Most of the artists would not have known of his work but their concern for aspects of the city, the human condition, subversive political statements, and their love and search for different materials and how they shape the artwork, confirm the visionary side of Caniaris and the contemporary validity of his output. It not only shows a way out for art into the future but it provides hope within the current climate for the importance of essence and belief as engines to move forward.
Featuring works by: Nikos Charalambidis, Francis Alijs, Kai Althoff, Tony Cragg, Helmut Middendorf, Christopher Wool, Jimmie Durham, Franz West, Georg Herold, Isa Genzken, Michael Bevilacqua, Angus Fairhurst, Santiago Sierra, Kostis Velonis, John Bock, Adam Chodzko, Georgia Sagri, Annette Messager, Miroslaw Balka, Dryden Goodwin.
Curatorial: Els Hanappe.
Exhibition in cooperation with MIET, National Bank Cultural Foundation.
ITYS, Institute for Contemporary Art and Thought, is a non-profit organization based in Athens, Greece.
