The 1st edition of the Biennale of Contemporary Keramics is on view in Santorini
June 7 – October 26, 2024
Greece’s 1st Biennale of Contemporary Keramics, titled CLAY ECHOES — Unearthing Hidden Narratives and held in Santorini, embraces a unique nomadic concept. Unlike traditional biennales centered in major cities, this event will travel across different Greek islands, drawing inspiration from their mythological and historical backgrounds.
This year’s exhibition is taking place at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. Through an Open Call, the artists inspired by the archaeological wealth of Akrotiri are highlighting the region’s deep historical roots and artistic traditions. The event emphasizes the fusion of past and present, showcasing how ancient techniques and modern creativity can coexist and enrich each other.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera, which has the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri as a point of reference, presents the life and culture of Thera during the prehistoric period, as depicted through various exhibits, mainly clay vessels and wall paintings.
Akrotiri was a major urban center and port of the Aegean during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (2000–1700 BCE). It was a populous city with admirable social organization, public streets, and high-rise buildings. Impressive frescoes – the oldest examples of monumental painting in Greece – decorated almost all building complexes, and through their narratives, they provide valuable information about the society of Akrotiri today. Over seventeen thousand ceramic vessels of various types and sizes, tools, figurines, ritual objects, and furniture were discovered in the area, testifying to the great development of the settlement.
Santorini’s global influence today makes it an ideal first destination for BCK and an excellent “medium” for spreading local artistic activity worldwide. For five months, from June 7 to October 26, 2024, visitors can admire the main exhibition, attend workshops and lectures, and visit parallel exhibitions.
The three top awards were given to:
• George Vavatsis for “Incision” – 1st Prize
• em irvin for “weights (limits of excavation)” – 2nd Prize
• Ule Ewelt for “Therion” – 3rd Prize
Special honorary awards for contributions to contemporary ceramic art and traditional Greek ceramics were presented to artists Eleni Vernadaki and Andreas Makaris.
Participating Artists: Stella Baraklianou, Helena Boddenberg, Mirka Drapaniotou, Ule Ewelt, Ion Fukazawa, Amyel Garnaoui, em irvin, Iosifina Kosma, Konstantinos Ladianos, Simon Manoha, Natalia Manta, Angeliki Papadopoulou, Desa Philippi, Yoav Reches, Nikos Sepetzoglou, Theo Triantafyllidis, Christos Tsoumplekas, George Vavatsis, Yena Young, Giannis Zois
Jury Committee: Theodora Chorafas, Florian Daguet-Bresson, Konstantina Daskalantonaki, Marina Fokidis, Fragoula Georma, Mareva Grabowski, David Jones, Loukia Thomopoulou
Exhibition Curators/Design: Konstantina Daskalantonaki, Loukia Thomopoulou, Marina Fokidis, Maya Efstathiou, Aris Petrou
Apart from the main exhibition at The Museum of Prehistoric Thera, BCK, in collaboration with galleries and art spaces devoted to Ceramic Art, presents a parallel program of events with exhibitions, presentations, and workshops, both in physical and digital form, with a focus on interaction with the local community and the artists. The full schedule is available on the biennale’s website.
Contact
info@bigbluedot.art
Photo credit
- Lambros Papanikolatos (Images 1-11 and 13-20)
- Anastasios Aggelou (image 12 showing Iosifina Kosma and images 21-22 showing Yoav Reches)
