Urban Antibodies at weekend.Athens

22.11.2020

Text by Kiriakos Spirou


An interpretation of the present state of the world, the exhibition Urban Antibodies has the transformation of European cities and landscapes as its point of departure. In a statement issued by the artists, Urban Antibodies seeks to “reimagine cities as living organisms, looking at sites of of toxicity and vulnerability, recovery and care, metaphorically and literally”. To this end, the exhibition adopts Martin Warnke’s position that topographical features are results of ideological decisions; as such, the way cities and their surrounding environment mutate reflect not only human development but also the way we understand human life on this planet within an urban context. The works at the exhibition span painting, sculpture, video and small installations that engage with urbanism, labour, design and technology. Although their relationship to their urban context is not immediately apparent, spending time with each work reveals internal relationships and subtle, poetic gestures that drive their point home in a more nuanced way.

Participating artists: Lea Collet, Konstantinos Giotis, Natalia Janula, Richard Müller, Eva Papamargariti, Konstantinos Pettas, Efthimios Sakkas, Marios Stamatis, Valinia Svoronou

Urban Antibodies, installation view (Konstantinos Giotis, Valinia Svoronou, Lea Collet)
Lea Collet, You seem to fear the monacular vision of things, 2020 (detail). Prints, flowers and text
Lea Collet, You seem to fear the monacular vision of things, 2020 (detail). Prints, flowers and text
Lea Collet, You seem to fear the monacular vision of things, 2020 (detail). Prints, flowers and text
Lea Collet, You seem to fear the monacular vision of things, 2020. Prints, flowers and text
Urban Antibodies, installation view (Konstantinos Pettas, Valinia Svoronou, Konstantinos Giotis)
Konstantinos Giotis, The slow cancellation, 2020 (detail). Oil and collage on linen
Konstantinos Giotis, The slow cancellation, 2020 (detail). Oil and collage on linen
Konstantinos Giotis, The slow cancellation, 2020. Oil and collage on linen
Urban Antibodies, Installation view (Eva Papamargariti, Konstantinos Pettas, Valinia Svoronou, Konstantinos Giotis)
Valinia Svoronou, Outdoor Bench I & II, 2019 (detail). Tarmac, jesmonite fiberglass weave, metal frames, essential oils
Valinia Svoronou, Outdoor Bench I & II, 2019. Tarmac, jesmonite fiberglass weave, metal frames, essential oils
Valinia Svoronou, Outdoor Bench II, 2019 (detail). Tarmac, jesmonite fiberglass weave, metal frames, essential oils
Urban Antibodies, installation view (Konstantinos Pettas, Valinia Svoronou)
Konstantinos Pettas, Sometimes they come with urges, 2020. Bronze, plaster
Konstantinos Pettas, Sometimes they come with urges, 2020. Bronze, plaster
Urban Antibodies, Installation view (Eva Papamargariti, Konstantinos Pettas, Valinia Svoronou)
Eva Papamargariti, Lethargic mutiny, 2020. Mixed media
Eva Papamargariti, Lethargic mutiny, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Eva Papamargariti, Lethargic mutiny, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Eva Papamargariti, Lethargic mutiny, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Urban Antibodies, installation view (Marios Stamatis, Eva Papamargariti, Valinia Svoronou)
Marios Stamatis, EXO EXO, 2020. Mixed media
Marios Stamatis, EXO EXO, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Marios Stamatis, EXO EXO, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Marios Stamatis, EXO EXO, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Marios Stamatis, EXO EXO, 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Urban Antibodies, installation view (Natalia Janula, Marios Stamatis)
Urban Antibodies, installation view (Natalia Janula, Marios Stamatis)
Natalia Janula, Betwixt flesh (When we don’t see), 2020. Mixed media
Natalia Janula, Betwixt flesh (When we don’t see), 2020. Mixed media
Natalia Janula, Betwixt flesh (When we don’t see), 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Natalia Janula, Betwixt flesh (When we don’t see), 2020 (detail). Mixed media
Natalia Janula, Play it by rhizome (installation view)
Urban Antibodies, installation view (Natalia Janula, Marios Stamatis)
Konstantinos Pettas, What is my head if not a blunt tool, 2020. Inkjet print on paper
Efthimios Sakkas, Biography of an object, 2020. Text on A4 paper
Richard Müller, The Mailroom, 2020. Looping video
Richard Müller, The Mailroom, 2020. Looping video

Info
Urban Antibodies
Organised by weekend.Athens and Natalia Janula
Opening Fri 30 Oct 18:00-22:00
31 Oct-15 Nov

weekend.Athens
Dimitras 15, Tavros 177 78
By appointment
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Photos courtesy of weekend.Athens

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