The Dance Floor, 19-29.6.2015
temporary installation in the garden of Green Park, Athens, Greece, a Mavili collective space occupation "Where are we now?".
On the issue of the "role of the artist" amidst the growing capital of "the mediation of the institutions" in the artistic creative processes this "dance floor" reflected a precarious structure- an open yet delineated space that got its dancers set and ready from time to time on the event of music.
Mavili Collective, energised the empty unused space of Pedion toy Areos "Green Park", setting a frame of action under the title "Where are we Now?". In Gigi's Argyropoulou text: "What was foregrounded was not the validity of artistic quality but rather its relation to a "here and now" that also as José Esteban Muñoz writes "is transcended by a then and there that could be and indeed should be". [Gigi Argyropoulou "Precarious Structures: Passing Thoughts on Forms and Encounters", International Online, August 26, 2015]
Mavili Collective issued the following on the specific occupation:
"Today on the 19th of June, 2015 we are occupying Green Park café in the Pedion tou Areos, one of the two central parks of Athens. Almost 4 years after the occupation of the Embros Theatre in 2011 we are activating with our own means a space deserted and left empty for years by the Greek state and propose a 10 day program of cultural and political intervention in the here and now of Athens. [...] The occupation is not defined by a particular ideology or interest but rather comes about as a result of the encounters born out the experiments and struggles of the last few years. Thus, we look to, rebuild modes of collectivity and solidarity and reclaim friendship for its political importance. We propose friendship as a model for organizational formations and autonomous instituting that exceeds neo-liberal calls to order".
In the former refreshment center of the Southern part of the once well taken care of Park of Pedion tou Areos the re-energised space offered the ground for actions of various hues. The discussions focused, among other issues, on the role of institutions in the cultural terrain, cultural policies and funding. The specific occupation took upon an active part towards different socio political events that formed a bleak environment for the support and handling of cultural affairs.
Some of the participanting artists, performers and researchers were: Gigi Argyropoulou, Kostas Tzimoulis, Vasilis Noulas, Sofia Dona, Anastasia Douka, Dimitra Dimopoulou, Krini Dimopoulou, Myrto Xanthopoulou, Ilias Papagiannopoulos, Kostis Velonis, Alexia Karavela, Jonas Kocher & Ilan Manouach, Nektarios Pappas, Evi Kalogeropoulou, Maria Loizou, Dimitra Zervou, Ilias Kavakos, Sofia Simaki, Gabriel Pagonis, Constantina Theodorou, Kostas Tsioukas, Mairy Tsoni, Nana Sachini, Thanos Despotopoulos, Dora Oikonomou, Alexia Sarantopoulou, Fereniki Vatavali, Ioanna Xatzipanigyri, Zafos Xagoraris.
The events included a discussion with Jacques Rancière together with Thanos Andritsos, Akis Gavrilidis, Evangelia Ledaki, Eva Prousali, Stavros Stavridis, Kostis Velonis, Despina Zefkili.
