words [do it]

i am curating a series of monthly poetry readings [in greek], that began in december 2011 in "parapera" multi-space, and will continue at the "104" centre for literature and the arts

"words [do it]" mean to let the poets themselves speak their words, those of poets they've translated, and of poets they love

at the first evening, last december, 9 poets read poems they love and that give them strength

on 22 february 2012, poets katerina anghelaki-rooke and danai sioziou will read their own poems, poems they've translated, as well as poems they love, and they'll talk about their relationship to words

not the 3rd athens biennale

the 3rd athens biennale, 'monodrome', was for me clearly the most interesting so far - also the most curatorially coherent. the choice of main venue -the now disused 'diplareios' school [that used to train students in various crafts] located in the middle of one of the most problematic parts of athens' centre- was both inspired and defining


there was a constant and incredibly fruitful dialogue between the works of art and the building itself, its history -as we know it, as it appears graffittied on its walls, or exhibited in its archives-, the buildings around it, and the views from its windows as one ascended its floors


i therefore chose to concentrate on the building, its surroundings, and the views one sees as one walks along its various rooms

the new economy

managing one's home: that's what "economy" meant in the first place; money came later - and is the least of it

'les mains d' hypnos' @ "icono-poeisis"

a first draft / extract from les mains d' hypnos [hypnos' hands; where "hypnos" in greek is both "sleep" and the mythical brother of death] -two handbound 'noteboks' of photographs of hands facing poetry by rene char [his 1946 book, feuillets d' hypnos [hypnos' leaves]]- with which i'm taking part in the group exhibition "icono-poeisis" [m.cacoyannis foundation, athens, 11-26 march 2011]

non è mai troppo tardi

today's photograph on troppotardi [che poi non è mai]


[p.i., ii.2011]

in land

this spectator of patrice chereau's 'faces and bodies' has been sighted again in 'land'

[photo: p.i., paris, i.2011]

23 lights for 2011

The “Pedion tou Areos” [Mars’ Fields] Park of Athens –one of the two largest in the city– has been during the past several years, and still is, under re-landscaping. However, parts of it have been gradually opening to the public since last September. And on Christmas eve, the low headlights on the street side of Leoforos Alexandras were on for the first time. 

This New Year’s eve, having spent a lovely early evening drinking tea with a seldom –until now, at least– seen friend, I returned home. Very peaceful, I decided to stay in. Washed the dishes, made only a single phone call, read the year’s –and decade’s– rather somber review in the paper. I was toying with the idea of going to bed early – but then thought I should go out and realize the idea I had on Christmas eve.

I photographed –with no pretensions to ‘art’– each single headlight on the street side, using identical conditions: the lower part of the frame rests on the top of the marble ledge; each headlight is placed in the middle of the bottom edge.

All photographs were taken by me standing on the pavement lane for the blind.

The Park’s re-landscaping has been a long time coming, unfortunately. Fortunately, its principal architect, Alexandros Tombazis, is a respected figure – and received the highest number of votes amongst candidates with the party that won the recent municipal elections. Those results were a great relief, and many hopes hang on them.

The headlights end at the site of Athena’s statue, erected in 1952 to honour British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers who were killed on Greek soil during WWII. It now looks over a –perhaps regrettably rather too geometrical, but certainly mythologically appropriate– olive grove. The skaters, who used to love the marble pavement in front of it, will have, I hear, their specially designed area.

The lights are on. There’s work to be done.

365 friends

Cold light
flush with the dark


Five fell
Three stand

[Written to accompany this photograph by Efi Panagoula on the web calendar '365 friends', for 15 March 2010]

a welcome to anne carson

[a piece in greek, including translations of three poems by anne carson: "viii. click" and "xxi. memory burn" from autobiography of red, and "ode to sleep" from decreation - a small welcome, as she arrives in greece next week, invited by the 1st tinos international literary festival]

[photo: p.i., tinos, 2001]

may_viii

and the last, eighth, gallery for may 2010: 18 iamges by 14 photographers, amongst whom, panaef

10may_vii

the seventh may 2010 gallery: 18 images by 14 photographers - including nyulia

10may_vi

the sixth may 2010 gallery: 18 images by 15 photographers - including ubik14