> Sampling

Fikret Atay, Koken Ergun, Leyla Gediz, Ozlem Gunyol, Mustafa Kunt, Ahmet Ogut, Cengiz Tekin
Curated by locus athens

Center of Popular Arts & Traditions
6 Agg. Hatzimichalis Str., Plaka

Private View March 13th, 20:00
March 13th – May 11th 2008
Opening Times:
Tuesday - Thursday 9.00-13.00 & 17.00-21.00
Saturday – Sunday 9.00-13.00 

locus athens has invited seven Turkish artists to showcase their work for the first time, in Athens, Greece.

Rather than providing a survey or totalizing overview of contemporary Turkish art, our exhibition aims simply to suggest a sample of artists and their work which we believe are interesting.

Wary of exhibitions whose broader thematics are based on nationality, regionality or the politics inherent in place locus athens hopes this exhibition can be read in much simpler terms, without the pitfalls of ideologies, the fetishization of difference and the complexities of national power exchanges.

Some of the artists’ works portray very personal narratives others touch on broader themes and anxieties. We hope that they give a Greek audience the chance to become acquainted with the vibrancy of the art being produced both in Turkey and by Turkish artists working outside their country today. As well as allowing an equal exchange of both similarities and differences between the contemporary art scenes in each country to be touched upon.

The exhibition is generously being hosted by the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Athens in the newly renovated Centre for Popular Arts and Traditions, a landmark building designed by Aristotle Zachos in the 1920’s combing regionalist details with starker Modernist traits. The building was designed for Angeliki Hatzimichalis, one of the first collectors of Greek folk art.