public square, Thessaloniki

Place
Thessaloniki
Year
2015
Institution
State Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki /GR
Place
Stadtraum/ Public space, Thessaloniki /GR
Curator
Maria Tsantsanoglou, Eirini Papakonstantinou
Technique
Textile banner, performance, open call, edition
Thanks
Angeliki Charistou, Cleo Gouslou, Aris Kalogiros, Stella Lavva, Peter Panes, Chrysa Zarkali
Photographer
Archive Mischa Kuball, Düsseldorf /DE Carl Friedrich Schröer, Düsseldorf /DE Dimitris Mermigas/ Yiannis Simos, Thessaloniki /GR
Supported by
Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, Greek State Museum of Contemporary Art, Goethe-Institut, Thessaloniki /GR, Ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Stuttgart /DE

The black square by Kazimir Malevich stands paradigmatically for Russian Suprematism and thus for the concept of art as a force for political change. On the occasion of the exhibition “Kazimir Malevich and His Students: 100 Years After the Black Square” at the National Museum of Thessaloniki, the artist implemented an action in the Greek city, one that was previously realized in Hamburg in 2007. At a time when the economic and political situation of Greece could not be more volatile, he rendered Malevich’s icon in public space. As a moving mass of people clothed in black or white the black square on a white ground becomes a mobile agora and trigger for public debate. Whereas the version in oil on canvas from 1915 in the museum is a historic symbolic vehicle, the group of people develop their political potential in this collective and public action. (JO)

Thessaloniki • 2015