[spectre] Cyprus @ Venice Biennale [u]

[Geert Lovink [c]]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Artrageous Group" <info at artrageousgroup.com>
>
> Artists: Panayiotis Michael and Konstantia Sofokleous
>
> Curator: Chus Martinez
> Commissioner: Louli Michaelidou
> Deputy Commissioner: Stavroula Andreou Busnello
> Designer (material/pavilion): Gorka Eizagirre
>
> Opening: PALAZZO MALIPIERO, vaporetto San Samuele, line 82
> Thursday, 9 June, 18:00 hrs
> GRAVY PLANET
> A world Drawing by Konstantia Sofokleous
> and Panayiotis Michael
>
> The Cyprus pavilion for this year's Venice Biennale presents 
> Konstantia Sofokleous (1974) and Panayiotis Michael (1966), two 
> artists whose works for the pavilion comprise drawings on paper, wall 
> interventions and animations. Both artists research how every one of 
> us is a rational actor carrying subjective rights and private 
> inclinations in societies transformed into a Gravy Planet - a place 
> were you are not allowed to miss the gravy train.
>
> Although the exhibition is based on two individual presentations, the 
> full project must be seen from the viewpoint of a shared aim: to 
> investigate mechanisms that allow us to locate our universe of private 
> worries within the public sphere. By working in a very personal manner 
> and based on the study of how each of us perceives and acts in 
> socio-political and geographical situations that define our daily 
> lives, both artists have striven to find meaningful resources in order 
> to create a space where new values acquire form.
>
> Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a Popular Children's Poem are the 
> two animated pieces on which Konstantia Sofokleous' installation is 
> based, together with a large series of wall drawings.
>
> Panayiotis Michael - under the general title of I promise, You Will 
> Love me Forever- has chosen different works on paper and murals that 
> combine many issues, primarily focusing on how collective action 
> produces public good.
>
> Chus Martinez is an Art critic and Curator at Sala Rekalde 
> (www.salarekalde.net), a public space in Bilbao dedicated to promoting 
> and raising awareness on contemporary artistic practices. She lives 
> and works in Bilbao, Spain.
>
> Panayiotis Michael was born in Nicosia in 1966. He studied Graphic 
> Arts and Design at the Moscow Academic Art Institute, and Painting at 
> Queens College, New York. Since 1994 he has presented his work in many 
> solo and group shows, in his home country and abroad. He has 
> represented Cyprus in the Rijeka Biennale of Croatia (1998) and the 
> 20th Alexandria Biennale in Egypt (1999), where he was awarded the 
> Jury Prize. Michael is co-founder of Artrageous, 
> (www.artrageousgroup.com), an artist group created in 2004 with the 
> purpose of creating a social-political manifestation that focuses on 
> the role of the artist as an agent of public awareness within a 
> contemporary art context. During the past few years, he lives and 
> works in Nicosia. In Venice, the artist will be showing a series of 
> drawing collages.
>
> Konstantia Sofokleous was born in Limassol in 1974. She studied 
> Graphic Design at the Technological Education Institute of Athens and 
> Internet Technologies at New York University. This year she is to 
> conclude her Master's degree in Computer Animation at the University 
> of Westminster, London. During the past few years she has participated 
> in various European and international programmes for young artists. 
> Since 1997 she has been working in the field of Graphic Design and Web 
> and Multimedia Development. In Venice, Sofokleous will present two 
> animation movies, traditional and experimental, as well as drawings 
> and storyboards created during the production phase 
> (www.konstantiasofokleous.com).
>
> The presentation of Cyprus will be accompanied by a 96-page 
> publication - distribution by Revolver Verlag and texts by Chus 
> Martinez, Lars Bang Larsen and Sarah Lowndes.
>
> The participation of the Republic of Cyprus at the Biennale of Venice 
> is organised and sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
>
> Special Thanks to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), KEO 
> Group, and the team of Cypriot Fashion Designers, for their 
> contribution in the promotion of the Cyprus Pavilion in Venice.
>
> The Cyprus Pavilion is at
> PALAZZO MALIPIERO
> San Marco 3198 (San Samuele/
> Palazzo Grassi Station - Line 82)
> I-30124 Venezia
>
> Tel: +39 0422 885216 / +39 3484776815
> fax: +39 0422 885216
> http://www.cyprusinvenice.com
>
> Opening hours
> Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 18:00,
> Monday Closed
>
> Contact
> Louli Michaelidou
> Ministry of Education and Culture,
> Cultural Services,
> 1434 Nicosia, CYPRUS
>
> Tel: +357 22 800979/800933
> Fax: +357 22 518042
> e-mail: LMichaelidou at culture.moec.gov.cy
>
> Kind regards,
>
> The Artrageous Group