Festival/Exhibition Theme: I Look At You*
12 – 14 October 2018 / Trii Art Hub, 9 Drakou Street, Koukaki, Metro Station Siggrou Fix
Exhibitions / Workshops / Projections / Discussions / Events / Music
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 October 2018, 12.00 – 22.00 /
Opening: Friday 12 October 2018, 19.00
FREE Entry
* I Look At You / The exhibition’s title is a sentence borrowed by the autobiographical texts of Louise Bourgeois, included in the book “The Return of the Repressed”:
I do not search, I find - I do not take, I give - I do not fall asleep, I wake up - I do not cry, I laugh - I do not look at the floor or the curtains I look at you, I am free - I look at you
Bourgeois is a particular instance of artistic practice, because of the use of mental «material» emerging during personal psychoanalysis in its visual artwork.
For the 11th year, the ART4MORE Festival entitled «I Look at You», will be held during the 12, 13 and 14th of October 2018, by the organization Social Cooperative Activities for Vulnerable Groups - K.S.D.E.O. "EDRA". Three days filled with Exhibitions, Workshops, Discussions and Music, in a histroric buliding at the center of Athens, at the culture hub Trii Art Hub (9 Drakou Street, Koukaki, Metro Station Siggrou Fix).
The theme of this year’s festival «I Look at You», points to the process of the psychotherapy session, wherein the therapist and the person receiving therapy are involved in the experience of the gaze. They activate and often dramatize anew the “gaze of the mother”, where the baby would “mirror” itself through the eyes of its mother and would gradually acquire consciousness of its uniqueness and individuality. However, the “gaze” is also the self-evident experiential act, happening during the act of witnessing a play and taking place between the audience and the play.
Like any other ART4MORE festival, for 2018 visitors can also attend exhibitions, take part in discussions and workshops which give prominence to the positive connection between art and mental health, but also enjoy Greek-flavored gypsy jazz music by the band Gadjo Dilo, in a unique live show on Sunday 14 October, 2018.
The ART4MORE festival is taking place annually since 2007, on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day (observed on 10 of October), aiming at informing the public and raising awareness and combating stigma and discrimination attached to mental health conditions. ART4MORE festival has been established as the first festival in Greece giving prominence to the connection of art and mental health, having hosted up until now more than 300 distinguished Greek and foreign artists representing various art forms.
EXHIBITIONS (Saturday 13/10 and Sunday 14/10, 12:00 - 22:00)
The exhibition is comprised by four sub-groups, simultaneously presenting different approaches to highlight the connection between art and mental health:
- 1. Artists’ Exhibition:
Apostolidou Katerina, Arvanitis Nikos, Diakomi Katerina, Ioannou Dimitris, Kama Eleni, Konti Maria, Skaltsas Giannis, Stratou Danai, Foutris Dimitris, Hristopoulos Kostas.
Curator: Kanarelis Nikos, Visual Artist Painter
- 2. Section “Art Residencies in Mental Health Units” / EDRA-ASFA
“EDRA” has solidified an important cooperation with the School of Fine Arts (Memorandum of Cooperation) and the Liaison Office of the same School (www.dasta.asfa.gr). Through this particular cooperation and especially through the initiative «Art Residencies in Mental Health Units» which is being implemented since 2016, emerging artists / students of the School are able to:
- Visit mental health units, and with the supervision of art therapists or occupational therapists of the units and the supervision by Nikos Kanarelis, the supervising responsible of the Organization of the project, make short meetings with members/recipients of mental health services by cooperating and cocreating artworks.
Each artist undertakes the proposal of a concept based on which the group will work on for the creation of a collective work, including many small creations by the members. Its final form is curated by the artist.
- Visit Art Stations of the Athens School of Fine Arts and create a visual artistic workshop cocreated with recipients
The artworks, as well as snapshots of their creation will be exhibited at the ART4MORE Festival.
Curation: Lekka Ioanna-Maria, Occupational therapist of the Boarding Home «Ippokratis Ι»
- 3. Photography Exhibition of recipients of Mental Health services
In the context of enriching its treatment programmes, implemented at its Residential Psychosocial Rehabilitation Units, the organization K.S.D.E.O. «EDRA» has included since 2017 the «Photography Seminar» for the recipients of services of the Organization, with voluntary support by members of the photograher Vangelis Tamvakos (www.artamvakos.gr).
The results of the seminar will make up the material for the special photography section of the Exhibition, focusing on the distinctive perspective of the recipients, having interesting results.
Exhibition Curator: Tamvakos Vangelis, Photographer, Photography Group “Instantane”
- 4. Section “Art as Therapy” / Exhibition of Graduates of the Annual Seminar of L.L.L.C. «EDRA»
The exhibition includes a selection of works which were created during the experiential educational courses of the annual seminar “Art as Therapy”. The seminar was held during the educational period 2017-2018 by K.S.D.E.O. “EDRA”, the Life Long Learning Center “EDRA” and the Liaison Office of the Athens School of Fine Arts, under the supervision of the educational work Art Therapy by the Organization «Psychology Art».
This specific educational intervention has as its ultimate purpose to make use of the spontaneous visual artistic creation as a means of emotional expression and communication with the self and the group. The seminar offers the appropriate tools to understand the treament potential which art can provide in different treatment settings, and the historical review and evolution of Art Therapy up to this day.
Curator: Konti Maria, Teaching Professional – Visual Artist
WORKSHOPS:
- "Me and Others" (Saturday 13/10, 12.30-14.30)
During the experiential seminar entitled "Me and Others" participants will be able to express themselves and create their personal piece of a puzzle. Subsequently, the members of the group will compose the puzzle and through this process they will symbolically experience the way they are related to others.
Implementation: Pantagoutsou Afroditi, Occupational Therapist and Art Psychotherapist, Α’ Psychiatric Clinic of the Kapodistrian University of Athens at Eginition Hospital – Elisavet Ioannidi, Education Curator at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) & trainee art psychotherapist at the Art and Psychotherapy Center.
- “Follow your hand” (Sunday 14/10, 18.30-19.30)
Games of observation and interaction create a breeding ground for visual artistic expression. What happens when we paint with our eyes? And what happens when we paint without them? Will the hand follow? The power and value of expressing through visual arts all that we observe as well as our emotions, brings us closer to the playful aspect of ourselves, which we abandoned through the process of adulthood.
Implementation: Economou Danai, Theatrologist
(Limited number of seats. Registrations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
PROJECTIONS (Saturday 13/10 and Sunday 14/10, 12:00 - 22:00):
Members of the Network of European Arts Festivals for Mental Health N.E.F.E.L.E., in which “EDRA” holds the Presidency, present through short videos their work and activities.
Participants:
INTRAS Foundation (Spain), ΑΜΑΚΑ, Association for Regional Development and Mental Health – (EPAPSY), Society of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health (S.S.P. and M.H.), Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals / KETHEA, Social Cooperative Activities for Vulnerable Groups - K.S.D.E.O. "EDRA", Panhellenic Union for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Work Reintegration (PEPSAEE), Psychology-Art.
PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS (Saturday 13/10, 18.00-20.00):
- Economou Marina, Associate Professor of Psychiatry – Social Psychiatry in the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of the Medical School of the University of Athens, «Mental Illness and Stigma: the role of Art»
- Economou Alexandros, Psychologist, Scientist Responsible of K.S.D.E.O. “EDRA”, "Being as a social and personal discourse of the other".
- Deli Ermioni, Painter – Teaching Professional, PhD in Art Education/ Art Pedagogy, Specialized Teaching Staff A.S.F.A. - «The egg: An approach of the visual artistic co-education with children in autism spectrum disorder wherein the aesthetic energy is connected to the necessity of acceptance and communication»
- Skaltsas Michalis, Psychologist of «Ippokratis Ι» Boarding Home of K.S.D.E.O. “EDRA”. «Art Residencies: From Idea to Action»
Discussion Moderator: Spyros Klisas, Psychiatrist
CONCERT:
Greek-flavored gypsy jazz by Gadjo Dilo (@GadjoAthens) at the 11th ART4MORE! (Sunday 14 October, 20.00)
The melodies of the pioneer of gypsy jazz music Django Reinhardt meet those of Chiotis and Tsitsanis, creating the unique sound of Gadjo Dilo, the genre which they call “Manouche De Grec”. Songs from another era carry modern and optimistic messages.
On stage, Gadjo Dilo impress with their musical skills and their passion which carries away the audience to dance and sing with them.
Organization:
Scientific Group:
Kerasoglou Maria, President of the Management Board
Economou Alexandros, Scientist Responsible
Lekka Ioanna-Maria, Occupational Therapist of the «Ippokratis Ι» Boarding Home
Exhibitions:
Theoretical Curation of the Exhibition: Konti Maria, Teaching Professional–Visual Artist
Organization–Exhibition Curation: Kanarelis Nikos, Visual Artist Painter
Organization of Photography Exhibition: Economou Danai, Theatrologist
Communications Department–Coordination: Goutsiou Aristea
Communications Department–Press Office: Economou Dimitris
MEMBER: of the Network of European Arts Festivals for Mental Health N.E.F.E.L.E. 
www.edra-coop.gr / www.art4more.org
