The contemporary art scene moves to the islands
Until September, when the first Athens Biennale opens, making the capital a lively place for contemporary art, the visual arts scene will move to the islands. In general, the scheduled exhibitions vary both in depth and quality – some are random collections of works with no real connection, while others are built around a more solid curatorial concept. On the whole though, summertime exhibitions tend to be lighter than those which take place during the main Athens gallery season. There are, however, certain exceptions. A number of interesting solo exhibitions have been planned. Opi Zouni’s solo show at the Bellonio cultural center on Santorini is one of the most important scheduled for the summer. The exhibition includes 24 recent works by the artist, many of them inspired by the island of Santorini, to where the artist can trace her family origins. Another solo exhibition is being held at the Foti Kremmida gallery on Cephalonia. It features 16 new pastel works created by the artist Pavlos Samios using the pastel technique for the first time. Samios, who teaches at the Athens School of Fine Arts, works in a figurative style and uses the color red in most of his paintings. Still lifes, fruit and female figures are recurring motifs in his work. The Citronne gallery on Poros features alternating, solo exhibitions. Works by the well-known New-York based artist Steven Antonakos, one of the first artists to have used neon in contemporary art, will be on view until Wednesday. Brightly painted, large paintings, many of which are of cars, by Mina Papatheodorou-Valyraki are the content of the next show. Closing the season will be an exhibition focusing on the work of Mark Hadjipateras. A large exhibition of the artist’s work will be held at the Municipal Gallery on Rhodes in August. «Realia Mundi,» this year’s exhibition organized by the Petros and Marika Kydoniefs Foundation on Andros and curated by Athena Schena is a group show that brings together contemporary Greek artists who work in a figurative style (Apostolos Georgiou, Theophilos Katsipanos, Harris Kondosphyris, Alina Matsa, Tassos Misouras, Kyriakos Mortarakos, Nikos Moschos, Xenophon Bitsikas, Dimitris Skouroyiannis and Mantalina Psoma). Most of the works explore the borderline between private and public life, reality and fiction. Pavlos Samios at the Foti Kremmida gallery in Kremmidi, Cephalonia (26710.81544), through Aug 15. Opi Zouni at the Bellonio cultural center, Fir, Santorini (22860.24960 ), from Aug 11 to Sept 23. «Realia Mundi» at the Petros and Marika Kydoniefs Foundation, Hora, Andros, to Sept 30. Exhibits at the Citronne gallery, Poros (22980.22401/www.citrone.com).
