Using the concept of the map as an artistic starting point – as a visual representation, that is, of an area and the relations between its elements – the purpose of this project is to underline the different characters that the neighborhood has taken over the centuries, always in reference to its historically charged location. To outline the transformation of the space from an idyllic, almost sacred, topos which was based on the transmission of knowledge and thought, to a vibrant neighborhood signified by cultural and social exchanges, practical knowledge and of course creation. Taking into account the stable position of the park throughout the reshaping of the district, its significance is reflected through historical facts and urban plans. Bearing in mind the phrase of Richard Sennett “The hand (the manual labor, that is) is the way that leads the mind to thinking,” we are trying to highlight the alternative paths of education and co-formation that were developed in the surrounding area of Akadimia Platonos through businesses and communities which flourished there, as well as the freedom that has always characterized the neighborhood. A freedom that is now indicated in its intercultural nuances and its openness to diversity.
Eirini Vlavianou is a visual artist from Athens. Her work is focused on installations, publications and theatre. She has participated in symposiums in the public programme of documenta14 and Kyiv Biennial 2017. She currently lives and works in Rotterdam.