EXHIBITIONS

Samkura: A Journey

“Samkura: A Journey”

October 23, 2012- December 9, 2013

State Museum of Contemporary Art (Warehouse B1, Thessaloniki port)

Opening: Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 20:30

The exhibition “Samkura: a Journey” presents the works of artists from Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Ireland and Portugal, who participated in a programme of cultural exchanges which was initiated and organized by «Cló Ceardlann na gCnoc» and supported by the EACEA, the co-partners, Culture Ireland and Ealáin na Gaeltachta. This exhibition is a collaboration between the SMCA and Cló.
“Samkura” means shamrock or trefoil in Georgian and the name was given to this trans-European art and culture initiative, offering to the well known Irish symbol connotations of artistic creativity, exchange and mobility. Artists from the five countries put into practice the idea of a living exchange through the experience of working both individually and collaboratively to create the works for this central exhibition that will bring the two-year programme to a conclusion.
Language played an important role in this artists’ collaboration. The coexistence of five historic languages and four alphabets gave a creative impulse to the common language of art. This diversity of languages and alphabets had a strong effect in the works and one of the artists’ challenges was to discover and assimilate the diversity of the other places.
The works of the artists refer also to the relationship with nature, as the residency areas were located mostly in rural areas far from the urban environment.
The artists that participate in the exhibition are Maria Boavida, Bernadette Cotter, Ingo Dünnebier, André Gonçalves, Oona Hyland, Ian Joyce, Fotini Kariotaki, Sarah Lewtas, Kevin McGee, Alexandra Ramires, Ioannis Savvidis, Azat Sargsyan, Nino Sekhniashivili, Lina Theodorou, Mkrtich Tonoyan, Guram Tsibakhashvili, Iliko Zautashvili.

Round table
A Round Table will take place on the 23rd of October between 10:30 and 14:00 at the Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki (Warehouse B1 – Port). At the Round Table there will be presentations of residency programmes for artists and curators from Greece, Armenia, Georgia, Ireland and Portugal. The artists’ residency programmes organized by «Cló Ceardlann na gCnoc» in Ireland, Portugal and Georgia as well as artistic exchange programmes and other visual arts activities in Armenia, Georgia and Greece will be on focus. The Round Table is addressed to artists, architects, photographers and exhibition curators.

During the exhibition “Samkura: A Journey” there will be educational programmes, with works from artists from Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Irland, Portugal, through a multicultural way. Guided tours will be announced on exact dates. Organization, implementation: Katerina Paraskeva, Evi Papavergou, Department of Educational Programs SMCA Contact for appointment: (+30) 2310589222, education@greekstatemuseum.com

With the support

Financial support

Collaborators SAMKURA: A journey / SAMKURA FORUM

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