Refugee crisis inspires artists at annual Athens Fast Forward Festival
Visitors to downtown Athens’s Syntagma Square will soon be able to test their mettle at a “haunted house” offering an immersive excursion into our contemporary culture of fear, Omonia will disappear for a couple of days, and a warehouse in Piraeus will be transformed into the labyrinthine lair of the dreaded Minotaur to depict the perilous journey of migrants and refugees: all this and more at the Fast Forward Festival, organized by the Onassis Cultural Center, from May 4 to 12.
This year’s festival, which will unfold at the OCC as well as various public spaces around Athens and Piraeus, explores the notion of being violently separated/uprooted from the familiar. “The festival will be talking about people who have been displaced from hearth and home in a violent manner. This does not just relate to refugees who left because of war, but also to people who have left their homelands because of nuclear disasters or economic crises,” the event’s artistic director, Katia Arfara, tells Kathimerini.
FFF will see quite a few familiar names, among them South African director and visual artist Brett Bailey, who came to Athens last year with “Exhibit B.” This year, Bailey’s vivid tableaux will be evident in “Sanctuary,” a labyrinth installation inspired by the myth of the Minotaur and representing the European Union in crisis, which will be set up in a world first at the Stone Warehouse at Piraeus Port.
Germany-based collective Rimini Protokoll – Helgard Haug, Stefan Kaegi and Daniel Wetzel – is also returning to Athens, this time to initiate a discussion about the multicultural character of Europe with its audiovisual performance “Evros Walk Water 1 & 2,” which tells the tales of six unaccompanied minors who made the crossing into Greece, where they were introduced to the music of John Cage during their stay at an Athens shelter.
The rhetoric of fear
In front of Parliament at Syntagma Square, Dutch artist Dries Verhoeven will set up a “haunted house,” complete with train, for his performance/installation “Phobiarama,” to address the rhetoric of fear that has resulted in the rise of far-right movements and increased introversion in society today.
Just a couple of kilometers away, Gregor Schneider – known for pushing the boundaries of art – will present “Invisible City,” which entails the camouflaging of Omonia Square so it disappears from the watchful eye of satellites. In the same area, the abandoned Classical Acropol Hotel will host the project “Don’t Follow the Wind,” which was prompted by the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011, and comprises works that explore the idea of exclusion zones, with references to both Greece and Japan.
FFF will also be presenting Akira Takayama’s peripatetic project “Heterotopia,” which will direct a walk from Omonia to the port city of Piraeus using mobile apps and maps to remind attendees of the waves of Greeks who set sail from there to live the American dream, just as thousands of migrants flock to Japan in hope of a better life.
“Our point of view is usually purely Greek and Eurocentric. But with this festival, I would like to expand our horizons and look at this region’s predicament in relation to what is going on elsewhere rather than staying trapped in our own microcosm,” notes Arfara.
The theme of displacement and migration is also at the core of London-based Greek choreographer Zoe Dimitriou’s “Peregrinus” and Hikaru Fujii’s video work “Heterochronia,” but also of “Zvizdal,” a film portrait of two people living in a Chernobyl ghost town, by Brussels-based duo Berlin.
To find out more, www.sgt.gr.
Read more here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
- 1) Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
- 2) Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens
- 3) Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
- 4) European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
26/03 23:51
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
26/03 21:59
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
26/03 17:56
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
26/03 11:45
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
23/03 17:43
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
23/03 16:49
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
23/03 16:47
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
22/03 21:54
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
22/03 19:51
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
22/03 19:32
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
22/03 14:19
22/03 00:24
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
22/03 00:02
Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle
21/03 22:41
21/03 15:33
Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens
20/03 22:48
Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries
20/03 21:52
Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens
20/03 21:44
Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote
20/03 20:55
Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance
20/03 18:01
Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece
19/03 22:28
President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens
19/03 20:57
19/03 20:25
FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy
19/03 11:15
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
18/03 22:20
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President
16/03 13:01
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
16/03 12:56
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
16/03 11:28
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
15/03 21:50
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
15/03 13:45
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
15/03 12:55
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
14/03 23:43
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
14/03 22:58
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
14/03 22:52
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
14/03 22:49
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
14/03 22:43
Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
14/03 19:32
No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
14/03 18:36
Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday
14/03 14:48
14/03 12:54
Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May
13/03 22:23
13/03 20:11
Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece
13/03 19:15
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
13/03 17:19
13/03 12:26
Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony
12/03 22:46
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
12/03 21:38
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15
12/03 20:29
First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki
11/03 23:58
Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
11/03 23:47
Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March
11/03 19:40
11/03 18:49
Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport
11/03 17:53
Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece
09/03 22:23
08/03 14:27
Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth
08/03 14:24
Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests
08/03 14:24
Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February
08/03 13:18
Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday
07/03 14:12
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
06/03 22:51
WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals
06/03 20:28
Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector
06/03 19:47
Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday
06/03 18:43
European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
06/03 16:37
'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved
06/03 14:40
Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'
05/03 14:28
Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida
05/03 14:21
05/03 14:11
ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023
05/03 12:24
Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
04/03 22:02
Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
04/03 21:47
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary
04/03 20:27
Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
04/03 19:44
Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday
04/03 15:12
Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background
29/02 22:54
Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday
29/02 21:44
Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation
29/02 21:30
Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points
29/02 21:03
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system
29/02 21:02
29/02 20:47
Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition
29/02 19:58
Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals
29/02 19:49
Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF
29/02 15:39
'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament
29/02 12:39
Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds
28/02 21:34
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
28/02 17:31
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
28/02 17:04
New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe
28/02 12:21
Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
28/02 11:57
27/02 17:25
UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists
27/02 15:00
Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive
27/02 14:26
Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world
27/02 13:15
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
27/02 12:46
Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion
26/02 18:30
Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April
26/02 18:27
Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting
26/02 17:25
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
26/02 16:33
Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese
26/02 16:21
Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday
25/02 12:30
Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
Greek Deputy Transport Minister flies in first test seaplane flight from Lavrio port
Athens streets reopen after private university protest rally and minor incidents
3-year stay and work permits approved for 30,000 undocumented migrants in Greece
Minister: Greece to support Bulgaria and Romania in joining the Schengen zone
Ski resort on Mt. Pelion of central Greece in full operation
AEGEAN concludes transfer of stake in Animawings to Memento Group
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
Sailing from ports of Piraeus and Lavrio back to normal after high-velocity winds end
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
Foreign Ministers: Cooperation between Greece & Egypt should 'serve as an example'
Holiday opening hours for shops resume in Greece on Wednesday
Greek Prime Minister to meet Bulgarian counterpart at Maximos Mansion