The 3rd Athens Biennale 2011, MONODROME, is a twofold project that takes the form of an international art exhibition and a feature-length film.
Curated by the art theorist and curator Nicolas Bourriaud together with the curatorial trio XYZ, who founded the Biennale (Xenia Kalpaktsoglou, Poka-Yio, Augustine Zenakos), the exhibition is based on the unexpected meeting of the Little Prince and Walter Benjamin. This deliberately paradoxical pairing of two seemingly mismatched heroes serves as the starting point for studying and commenting on the current social, political and economic situation, through a narrative that examines its human side in a broad and poetic way.
Athens and Greece are at the centre of a social and economic earthquake whose tremors are growing stronger. How can one reflect on this situation, particularly when it appears to have all the features that make it more global than national or local? Could what has so easily been labelled “the Greek example” be an important turning point in history?
The curators of the 3rd Athens Biennale 2011 believe that investigating this situation, for which Greece is a key point of reference, can prompt a cultural quest, one that may show that it is perhaps no longer relevant, or even ethical, simply to go on making exhibitions the way they have been made in recent years. Nicolas Bourriaud and XYZ decided to build these issues not only into the theme of the exhibition but also into its form, the very character of what is called a major periodic exhibition, by following a twofold process. First, they are transforming the Biennale itself into an invitation to collectives, political organisations and citizens who are taking part in the transformation of society, with the aim of creating a political moment rather than a political spectacle. Second, as the exhibition is being planned, the various stages of its preparation provide the basis for a feature-length film directed by Nicolas Bourriaud. The screenplay is a work of fiction, yet it is based on real people and events. It is the first time that the relationship between contemporary art and cinema has been explored so thoroughly.
After the 3rd Biennale closes, the film will be shown at selected film festivals and in museums, foundations and art venues. The production is being carried out by the French company Kino Prod (www.kino.fr).
MONODROME aims to spark discussion about something that has been destroyed, while also offering a glimpse of the new that follows.
Diplareios School
3 Theatrou Square | Metro: Monastiraki / Omonia
Arts Centre
“Eleftherios Venizelos” Museum
Eleftherias Park, Vas. Sofias Ave. | Metro: Megaro Mousikis
Information: www.athensbiennial.org
