Last chance to visit the 7th Athens Biennale
Moving between light and darkness, for the past few months, we have been wandering inside three “ghost” buildings of the historic centre of Athens, exploring familiar and uncanny facets of yesterday and today, simultaneously envisioning the various possible versions of the future.
Between Stadiou and Panepistimiou Streets at the former Fokas Department Store, the former Santaroza Courthouse, and the Schliemann-Mella Hall, the 7th Athens Biennale enters its last week. The final ritual will take place on Sunday 28 November.
The ECLIPSE invites you to see, listen and feel through stories and processes that have historically been pushed to the periphery, by taking part in an experience where Black, Queer, speculative and radical voices converse with rituals, worldmaking and interdependence.
The countdown for the last phase of the eclipse has begun and at its peak, a series of live events will take place.
LIFE EVENTS
SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Total Eclipse of the Art: Part 1 | 21:00
The local art scene of the African diaspora converses with the Athenian Ballroom community in two parallel stages, curated by BIOS.
Former Santaroza Courthouse Yard
Adedeji, born and raised in the vibrant city of Lagos, West Africa, and his band The Afrosessioners are inviting us in a celebration of Black music, an infusion of Traditional African music with a progressive attitude and modern sound of jazz, funk and soul music that is rhythmically and technically sophisticated, harmonically rich, and melodically compelling. Alongside Afrosessioners, JDM: a dance group made of 3 girls, will shake us to the beat of the African Dance in a work of empowerment. Mc Dash, aka Michael Afolayan, the founder of ANASA African Cultural Center, will be our official MC. Tosin Omo – Ebony, a Greek born Nigerian artist, will take us through an Afrobeat, Funk and New Nigerian Hip-Hop session as well as Tunji Nice and Demelza who will share their masterful vocals with us. On top, local DJ Dennis Green will mix his f ave Hip Hop and 2000 R&B tunes from inside our retro camping van.
Schliemann-Mela Hall Yard
Here you will enjoy Nonika, a DJ, a Producer and an active member of the local Ballroom Community whose House oriented sets are filled with Tech elements and Afro Grooves. Glastra Kareola who’s a Vogue Dancer and a Member of the Athenian Ballroom Community of Kareoles will be accompanying Nonika as well as the illustrious local talents ΑΣΤΥΤΕΚΚ, Lower Parts initiator, and KAWRS, the groovy duo compiled by Neda and Simos Ares.
SUNDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Ta Nea Xysta: The final act | 11:00 – 15:00 | Former Santaroza Courthouse
Following the performative creation of the iconic mural Ta Nea Xysta by Navine G. Khan-Dossos during the opening days of AB7: ECLIPSE, the final act of this performance, a “deconstruction” of the artwork, will take place at the former Santaroza Courthouse Yard, creating a limited in situ number of artworks-pieces of the original work that will be offered to the audience. This action functions not as an act of destruction, but as an act of decentralisation. As ECLIPSE completes its final phase, Ta Nea Xysta reflects on the lifecycle of an artwork and the impact it can have on society.
The event is realised jointly with BEOWULF.
Total Eclipse of the Art: Part 2 | 18:00 | Schliemann-Mela Hall
In collaboration with BIOS, ORILA DJs take over the space of Akalyptos at Schliemann-Mela Hall on the last day of ECLIPSE. Yannis Iasonidis, the head honcho of the Athenian DIY label Orila Records, along with the multi-genre music storyteller Chris OD, and the one-of-a-kind Devika and K.atou close this two months in the most beautiful way.
GUIDED TOURS
Dive into the worlds of the exhibition under the guidance of the ECLIPSE team on the last weekend of the 7th Athens Biennale.
The reservation is necessary and the participation is free of charge, along with your entrance ticket. The meeting point is the main exhibition venue, the former Department Store Fokas.
Scheduled Tours:
Saturday 27 November
16:00 – 18:00 (Greek)
18:00 – 20:00 (Greek)
Sunday 28 November
13:00 – 15:00 (Greek)
16:00 – 18:00 (Greek)
18:00 – 20:00 (English)
Reserve your seat through Eventora here.
CATALOGUE
Essays challenging beliefs, stories and poems invoking feelings, recipes and songs awakening memories: this is the ECLIPSE Diaries – the first part of the AB7 catalogue – a world between light and darkness open for you to discover. On the next pages, the curatorial team delves deep into the practice of the participating artists and their featured works in AB7.
Editors: Christopher Marinos, Omsk Social Club, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Poka-Yio
Coordinating Editor: Christopher Marinos
Texts, including Essays, Poems, Recipes: Jackie Abhulimen, Georges Bataille, Walter Benjamin, Franco Berardi, CAConrad, Leonora Carrington, Eddie Chambers, Francesca Gavin, Happy New Tears, Deborah Joyce Holman, Banu Khapil, Francesca Lisette, Mum Social Club, Negros tou Moria, Thomas Oberender, Omsk Social Club, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Poka-Yio, Primitive Art, Nat Raha, Erica Scourti, Kostis Stafylakis, Valinia Svoronou, Ayesha Tan Jones, the Mycological Twist, Eugenia Vereli, Julian Weber, Simone Weil
sonicECLIPSE: Ayshel/Waiting Room, Devika, Entropia Records, GRΞTA/Waiting Room, Ioannis & Foukodian Rhythms, Yorgia Karidi, K.atou, MMMD, Joseph Mouzakitis/ATH Kids, Olenxaa (Carina Obukhova), Grace Ow, Sugahspank!, Teranga Beat, Noff Weezy
Design: Sakis Stritsidis
Translations: Antonis Mozer, Dimitris Saltabasis
Editing: Dimitris Saltabasis
Printing: Pletsas � Kardari G.P.
Find the exhibition catalogue until November 28 at the main exhibition venue, the former Department Store Fokas.
INFORMATION
Exhibition Venues
Former Department Store Fokas, 41 Stadiou Str.
Former Santaroza Courthouse, 48 Stadiou Str.
Schliemann-Mela Hall, 46 Panepistimiou Str.
Opening Hours
Wednesday – Friday: 1 pm – 9 pm
Saturday – Sunday: 11 am – 9 pm
Covid-19 Protection Measures
To enter the AB7: ECLIPSE, the demonstration of either of the following is required:
Visitors above 12 years old
� Vaccination certificate (valid 14 days after final dose)
� Recovery certificate (valid for 6 months after diagnosis)
Visitors between 4-11 years old
� Negative self-test (24hour) or rapid-test (48-hour) ή PCR-test (72-hour)
