ATHENS
weekly
Weekly supplement by Insider Publications • www.insider-publications.com • No 118 • Friday, October 7, 2016 Electricity Black and Light
West Side Story
Mississippi Heat
An electrifying moving spectacle as global dance company, eVolutionDanceTheater, performs its current show “Electricity”/Black & Light, October 24, at PassPort Kerameikos: featuring dance, acrobatics, visual effects and advanced technology. Tickets from €20-32, from viva.gr. Kerameikou 58 kai Marathonos, pass-port.com.gr.
A vivid revival of Broadway smash musical West Side Story, set to Bernstein and Sondheim’s masterful songs. English lyrics with Greek sub-titles. Tickets from €12-40. Bookings: 210.728.2367 or megaron.gr. Athens Concert Hall, Vass. Sophias & Kokkali, October 15-21.
Modern blues outfit Mississippi Heat revives the golden age of 1950s Chicago Blues, October 14-17, at the Half Note Jazz Club. Tickets from 20€. Available from viva.gr, Public and Media Markt. Pangrati, Mets, Trivonianou 17, tel: 210.921.3360.
ART & CULTURE
CITY LIFE
TV THIS WEEK The Durrells
Theo and his neighbour Sven must put their rudimentary medical skills to the test when Larry Durrell falls dangerously ill. Spiros brings the family some good news that may ease their financial worries. Friday at 23.00 on OTE CINEMA 4HD.
All at Sea
The Public Life of Pets
One of Insider’s favourite contemporary artists, the Dutch painter Hans Giesen, will be honoured in a solo exhibition of his bold and emotive canvasses, titled Aegean Sea, and opening at the Dutch Institute later this month.
To celebrate this week’s World Animal Day (October 4), Insider asked artist and pet photographer Hara Sklika to share her list of top spots to take your best four-legged friend in the capital. Says Hara: I welcome the recent movement of Athens towards a more petfriendly city. In the last few years I have seen more people in the parks with their pets, on the streets and in the cafes. With all the stray dogs and cats in this city, it’s incredibly comforting to see a rise in awareness and movement of a greater love for animals here. Especially since Greece has a terrible reputation and history when it comes to animal cruelty. Best places in Athens to take your pets for a scenic walk: Tatoi Park, 27 km from the city centre, is a wonderful spot with dense forests and open fields mostly filled with olive trees for your pets to run around and taste the fresh air. Siggrou Estate, a forest at the outskirts of Athens, contained within Maroussi and Kifissia. The area has 950 acres of land covered by pine, almond and cultivated plants. It’s great for photographing and
UPCOMING EVENTS
Music Alain Lefèvre World-famous concert pianist Alain Lefèvre performs compositions from his new Greece-themed CD Sas Agapo at a special concert for the Dionysia Trust at Athens Concert Hall, October 15, at 8.30pm. Tickets €15-20, megaron.gr
even better to feel free from the urban chaos. Athens Riviera – the many southern sandy beaches that line the Athens Riviera, especially from Varkiza down – Saronida, Anavyssos, Sounion – are perfect for pet promenades. Pets Address Book: Puppies-Park in Maroussi, (Papadiamandi 32, puppiespark.gr) is a great recreational park where dogs of all ages can play, swim and exercise under supervised personnel. Municipal Dog Parks at Flisvos, Paleo Faliro, Holargos (with agility toys) and Ilioupoli (with agility toys). All fenced, plenty of water, nice environment. BlePapagalos, (Leonidou 31, tel: 211.012.1099) - brightly colored, polite people, with an impeccable hospitality for our furry friends. Go for a coffee and a wonderfully-retro photo-shoot. Bartesera, (Kolokotroni 25, Syntagma,
Since 1966, Giesen, has spent much of the year at his studio on the island of Paros. His most recent works express compassion “to the drama happening in the Mediterranean seas at this moment”. Movement is essential in Hans’ paintings, as aptly diagnosed by the eminent Dutch writer and poet J. Bernlef: “Giesen’s moveable works seem to tell us that we should not only watch with our eyes, but that we should also listen, feel, smell... a moveable spot where all senses are again connected”.
tel: 210.322.9805)- a beautiful place that shows special love to your pets and even takes care of the neighbourhood strays. Burger Joint – A classic for many Athenians with incredible burgers, and the only place where your dog can sit right next to you and enjoy a specialized meal for him/ her in their own bowl! Check www.burgerjoint.gr for your nearest branch. Menta cafe (Agion Theodoron 10, Kifissia) - they welcome your pet at the garden Hoxton (Voutadon 42. Gazi) - four-legged regulars lying on the sofas will welcome your pet as well. Fairytale (N. Trypia 48-50, Nea Filadelphia) - warm colours + warm staff = happy outing for all. Voula Platea (Vas. Pavlou, Voula) – eating establishments at this friendly neighbourhood square in the southern suburbs are very hospitable to pets: in particular Steki Kalamaki (Plastiras 10); Oppen (Posidonos 15) – and the ouzerie in the main square which gives regulars cuts of ham when they take their dogs there.
See Aegean Sea from October 19 at the Netherlands Institute at Athens, Makri 11, (metro station Acropolis). Visiting hours: Monday- Friday 10.00 - 17.00. See more of Hans Giesen’s work at www.hansgiesen.nl.
Trapped
With the murderer still at large, and the looming threat of an avalanche from above, unrest is beginning to grow among the still-trapped townspeople and tourists. Wednesday at 21.00 on OTE CINEMA 4HD. Watch OTE CINEMA 4HD on OTE TV
CINEMA THIS WEEK
The Secret Life of Pets
The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes. With Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart.
The Girl on the Train
Emily Blunt is an alcoholic divorcee who becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that sends shockwaves throughout her life in this Hollywood adaptation of one of 2015’s best-selling novels.
ART & CULTURE
Festival 4th Little Paris of Athens Embrace the Gallic spirit as Athenian streets with French names around central Athens are swept up in French music, café theatre and photo exhibitions at the 4th Little Paris of Athens Festival, October 6-16. Visit athensartnetwork.gr.
Dance Bolshoi Ballet Live See the Bolshoi Ballet broadcast live from Moscow in a sumptuous performance, The Golden Age, at Athens Concert Hall, Sunday October 16 at 6pm, Vass. Sofias & Kokkali. Tickets €15 (€8 for students), available from www.megaron.gr
CITY LIFE
Images of Another Europe Costantinos Pittas’ dream of capturing on film the “Great European Family, beyond borders and walls” is the subject of an evocative new exhibition at Benaki.
Reaching for the Sky Athenian artist Kostis Georgiou may be a Man of Many Mediums, but it’s his vivid talking-point sculptures that are earning him the most attention at the moment – especially in southern Athens. Two of his joyful pieces have popped up New York and several cities in France. He seemingly overnight recently in Voula and is currently preparing for solo exhibitions in Vouliagmeni (with new works about to ap- Chicago and Cyprus. pear imminently in Varkiza Square and Insider’s Krysta Fotinopoulou asked Kostis Palaio Faliro too). Southsiders have been Georgiou what was the meaning behind his enjoying the uplifting energy that his bright, stunning new sculptures: fluid, and – somehow serene - creations ‘The artwork is not necessary to provide have added to some of their most popular something specific, or to have some “hidcivic landscapes. den” message. The project is an autonoBoth his Voula project (“Anatasis”) and mous body that emits its energy in any enhis Vouliagmeni sculpture (“Equus”) were vironment. It has an internal reason to exist championed by local mayor Gregory Kon- and promote and its purpose is not to direct stantellos. the thought to a specific direction. Georgiou has staged more than 90 solo ex- ‘In true art, there is a “why”, but never a hibitions of painting and sculpture in some “because”.’ of the world’s most elite museums and galleries; while his skilful creations have See more of Kostis Georgiou’s work at graced civic squares in Beijing, Brussels, www.kostisgeorgiou.com This page was produced, in its entirety, by Insider Publications and the INYT-Kathimerini does not bear any responsibility for its contents. Reproduction in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, is forbidden except with the express written permission of the publisher. Although Insider Publications has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions it may contain.
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From 1985 to 1989, Costantinos Pittas traveled in Western and Eastern Europe, across 17 countries, capturing street scenes on both sides of the Wall. Equipped with a lightweight photographic equipment and a few rolls of black and white films, he wanted to show that what was common in this divided Europe was its own citizens and their daily lives, whatever the “world” to which they belonged. He believed that the great European family was always there, beyond borders and walls - and that photography was the way to reveal its existence. And then, in the late 80s, almost simultaneously, two things happened. The collapse of the Berlin Wall canceled the momentum of the project, since all countries would gradually become members of the European Union. Meanwhile, photography also entered a critical phase that questioned its relationship with reality. Pittas considered that his unique photo collection was now redundant and he “buried” the negatives without showing them to anyone. Twenty-five years later, his valuable work is presented to the public in its entirety for the first time. Your idea that the great European family was “always there, beyond borders and walls” ... Is it still a relevant theme in today’s fractured Europe? Yes, absolutely. The common European family is still there, intact, waiting for the real unification, despite the terrible prob-
lems and the narrow-minded nationalisms and fractures and bureaucracy. We should not forget that North America needed one hundred years and a civil war to become the United States. “Europe” is still so young...There are no many ways for our continent to follow: a common destiny or a war again. The noble idea of Europe will prevail in the future. Convinced your project had missed its window, you buried your negatives for a long time without making them public. What changed your mind? On March, 2014, I found in a drawer the little camera I used to make all these photos. I found the negatives, in good condition. I scanned a few frames and uploaded them to Facebook. To my great surprise, they were a success with my friends there. So then I uploaded more and more. And that drove me to the publication of my book last year which was warmly received and this large exhibition at the Benaki Museum today. There is a compelling playfulness or light touch apparent with many of your images. How posed or candid were they? All my photos are candid! I never posed any of my subjects. What quality would you say most of your subjects have in common? I am profoundly touched by the persons who let me read on their face the very essence of life, the human condition, the tragedy of our substance.
Do you have a favourite image from the Benaki collection and why? I have many but let me notice a few images of women: the shy and scared EastGerman girl in a cafe of East Berlin; the old lady pushing an empty baby stroller in Mannheim, West Germany; the little girl dancing in a railway station in Venice, or the elegantly-dressed lady with a carton box in Paris. Most of my photographs depict women. I “see” women more clearly and more deeply than men. Do you ever stay in contact with your photographic subjects? Very rarely. In Eastern Block I couldn’t have relations with the locals, they were afraid to speak to foreigners in public. In the West I was passing thru, I had no time for relations. I felt very lonely most of the time. But I needed my loneliness to see better, to go deeper. All the world has become a photographer now, in our digital age. Does this help or hinder your own professional craft? Everybody has a camera or a smartphone with camera today, but very few really look around. Everybody looks at his or her 5-inches screen. I have a problem to catch the eyes of the other nowadays... Benaki Museum Pireos, 138 Pireos & Andronikou, Athens, tel. 210.345.3111. From 26 September to 20 November 2016. Friday and Saturday (10h-22h), Thursday and Sunday (10h-18h). Tickets € 7, € 3.5.