Athena Papadopoulos

Flattery and flattening in Athena Papadopoulos’ The Smurfette at Emalin, Apr 28 – Jun 3

27 April 2017

Athena Papadopoulos presents solo exhibition The Smurfette at London’s Emalin opening April 28 to June 3.

The london-based Canadian artist will present new works for her second solo project with Emalin; the first, Honeymoon in Pickle Paradise (2014) took place in a hotel room at the Landmark Hotel.

Her practice uses a range of materials from cosmetics, edible ingredients and medicinal products to name a few, creating narratives out of both autobiographical and external sources from popular culture to dissect the “patriarchal power structures underpinning both the visual experience and social relations performed by Papadopoulos’ characters.”

Focusing on the act of ‘dolling onself up’, the work will explore archetype, flattening, and dense collage.

Visit the Emalin website for details.**

Athena Papadopoulos, Belladonna’s Muse (2017) Courtesy the artist + BASEMENT ROMA, Rome.

 

 

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Access + exchange in Athena Papadopoulos + Jonatan Leandoer127’s installation-performance

13 February 2017

Athena PapadopoulosJonatan Leandoer127 presented their installation and performance in an all-day collaborative art and music event, presented by Tate and Rinse FM at Switch House on February 2.

Athena Papadopoulos + Jonatan leandoer127, Tate Exchange (2017). Performance + installation view. Courtesy Tate Modern, London.

As part of the Tate Exchange programme, the show included an open discussion panel reflecting on the theme of “access and considering the public’s role as museum and gallery visitors,” led by Rozsa Farkas and Lotte Andersen, and ran at the South Bank institution from 12pm to 6pm. London-based artist Papadopoulos, meanwhile, created a performative installation in the space throughout the day, in response to Stockholm-based performer Leandoer’s music. The two communicated ideas of transparency via phone and email in the lead up, culminating in an event where the public was admitted, while Papadopoulos’ drapes and sculptures slowly set the womblike, tattered fabric stage for Leandoer’s performance to close. 

Athena Papadopoulos + Jonatan leandoer127, Tate Exchange (2017). Performance + installation view. Courtesy Tate Modern, London.

After some confusion from Tate staff on the venue’s capacity before opening the floor to audience members wishing to attend the evening performance, Leandoer appeared in face paint to perform his small catalogue of sparsely composed songs of longing, like the deeply moving ‘Never Again‘ and ‘Hotel in Minsk.’ Better known for his Yung Lean rap moniker, the musician self-released a number of these singer-songwriter sketches on cassette, called Psychopath Ballads, last year, drawing closer to the Sad Boys insinuations of his original crew. 

Leandoer was supported by a band that included Endless party founder Felix Lee (aka Lexxi) on vocals, Phil Granell of Floating Points Ensemble on violin and Ricky Mehra of Swedish band JJ on guitar, and ended the set — replete with poignant vulnerability — on an airhorn.**  

Athena Papadopoulos + Jonatan leandoer127’s Tate Exchange installation + performance was on at London’s Switch House Tate Modern on February 5, 2017. 

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Take This Gum And Stick It @ Ellis King, Jul 22 – Aug 27

19 July 2016

The Take This Gum and Stick It group exhibition is on atDublin’s Ellis King, opening July 22 and running August 27.

Curated by Nasrin Leahy the show features the work of artist and poet Bunny Rogers, photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, Athena Papadopoulos, Diamond Antoinette Stingily who’s recent show, Kaa ran at New York’s Queer Thoughts last month. There is also Pamela Rosenkranz, Hanna Törnudd and the late-photographer, Karlheinz Weinberger in an exhibition that comes with no description as a press release other than an accompanying image of a crumpled up piece of paper with some song lyrics on. 

The, along with the title suggest a sense that lingers between resentment and sorrow, wanting to both give out and retain the words written.

See the Ellis King website for (limited) details.**

Karlheinz Weinberger, 'Easy Rider Party, Egliswil'. Courtesy The Estate of Karlheinz Weinberger
Karlheinz Weinberger, ‘Easy Rider Party, Egliswil’. Courtesy The Estate of Karlheinz Weinberger, New York.
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Natural Instincts @ Espace Arlaud, Dec 4 -18

4 December 2015

The Natural Instincts group exhibition is on at Lausanne, Switzerland’s Espace Arlaud, opening December 4 and running to 18.

Featuring a number of artists including Andrea CrespoTarik Hayward, Rodrigo HernándezJan Kiefer and Megan Rooney the exhibition focusses on artists growing up with the internet and its affects, adverse or otherwise, on our so-called ‘natural instincts’. As society and political systems seemingly collapse under the weight of a human-technology tension, the show’s theme actively and provocatively affirms “hyper-subjective artisanal practices” that apply to making the body “felt again, to bring the figure close to the object, and to bring the artist closer to his work”

Other artists taking part include Daniel Keller & Ella Plevin,  Magnus Andersen, Mathis GasserCarla Filipe, Gina FollyChristopher Kline, Lydia Ourahmane and Athena Papadopoulos.

See the FB event page for details.**

Andrea Crespo, sis- somatic system (2015). Exhibition view. Image courtesy Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler.
Andrea Crespo, sis- somatic system (2015). Exhibition view. Image courtesy Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, Berlin.
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Jack Brindley + Eoghan Ryan @ Chisenhale Gallery, Nov 22

20 November 2014

Chisenhale Gallery is hosting Recent MA Graduate Artist Presentations, featuring Jack Brindley and Eoghan Ryan, at their London location on November 22.

The event, which is hosted by fellow artist Athena Papadopoulos as a part of her one-year studio award at Chisenhale, brings together the two recent graduates – Bridley from RCA in 2013 and Ryan from Goldmisths in 2012.

The discussion comes as the second in Papadopoulos’s series, and each event takes whatever form the contributing artists believe will create further dialogue and provide a platform for experimentation. The talk will be followed by a reception on the patio, weather permitting.

See the exhibition FB page for details. **

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