Athens Printmaking Art Center – Pandolfini & SIaterli C.N.P.P. presents the international printmaking exhibition Escape Plan 1984/2024 inspired by George Orwell’s “1984”, at ETCH INK art space running from the 1st March until 6th April 2024.

Following an open call launched in the summer of 2023, the ATHENS PRINTMAKING ART CENTER invited visual artists and printmakers from all over the world to rethink and reflect upon Orwell’s renowned novel “1984”, exploring its main themes and concepts in relation to the current socio-political conditions. Written in 1949 for the far-off 1984, Orwell’s prophetic work is a warning of a future world heading towards the abolition of any human freedom through systematic surveillance, corruption in information and culture of fear. In a world of continuous and recurrent global transformations, through wars, genocide, blatant violence and devious methods of mass manipulation with the guise of the pandemic crisis and the subsequent medical discourse imposed, the topics addressed in George Orwell’s political oeuvre seem to be of utmost relevance and urgency in our current times.

Encouraging artists to reflect on the socio-political conditions and the obscure aspects of the current state of affairs, Escape Plan: 1984/2024 seeks to illustrate scenarios and paths of escape, inviting visual artists to envision and propose an alternative plan for the future.

Recalling the intrinsically social and political discourse that printmaking has manifested in times of crisis and historical conflict, the exhibition reveals its role in uniting and connecting the community, as well as resisting various forms of sovereignty and control. Looking back at the history of printmaking, one can find great examples of significant artists demonstrating the social aspect of the medium. From the etchings of Francisco Goya (Los Desastres de la Guerra, 1810-1820) and Otto Dix (Der Krieg, 1923-1924), to the printed images of poignant figures by female printmakers such as Käthe Kollwitz (Germany) and Vasso Katraki (Greece) capturing the suffering of war, it is clearly articulated the role of printmaking as a vehicle for anti-war discourse, protest and political commentary against atrocities and violence.

The outcome of this international open call is presented in a group exhibition with 41 contemporary printmakers and visual artists from Argentina, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. The participants investigate the theme using a variety of techniques such as etching, intaglio, aquatint, linocut, silkscreen as well as through various combinations of mixed printmaking techniques. Aiming to show the openness of printmaking and its creative connection to the other artistic mediums, the exhibition Escape Plan 1984/2024 features additional commissioned works of guest artists, through in situ installations in dialogue with the wall-mounted printed artworks.

Participating artists:

Odysseas Annitsakis, Rena Anousi – Ilia, Eleni Chamakou, Sofia Charoni, Florence Christaki, Bernhard Cociancig, Peter de Leur, Calliope Dolcetti, Myrto Ferentinou, Folly, Floki Gauvry, Jonathan Hamblin, Magda Karampournioti, Theodoros Kemidis, Sofiia Khadzhynova, Anastasia Konstantakou, Vassiliki Koskiniotou, Aren Larcher , Jean-Jacques Lecoq, Thanos Magoulas, Daniela Marescalchi, Marializa Kambi, Corinne Mariotte, Valentini Mavrodoglou, Ioannis Monogyios, Thy Nguyen, Gunnar Nilmén, Nikitas Pefanis, Yeşim Paktin, Maria Panagiotou, Pino Pandolfini, Maya Papacosta, Eleni Papanikolaou, Kyriakos Rokos, Vera Siaterli, Dimitra Siaterli, Weronika Siupka, Konstantinos Sotiriou, Elsa Tsitouridou.

Guest artists: Christoforos Konstas & Christos Magganas | Xsquare DesignLab

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ETCH INK art space

Argyroupoleos 16, Lycabettus, Athens

Opening

Friday 1st March 2024, 6:30pm – 10:30pm

Dates

1 March – 6 April  2024

Visiting hours 

Wednesday – Thursday – Friday 5.00pm – 9.00pm & Saturday 11.00am – 3.00pm

Contact | [email protected] | www.athens-printmaking.com