WHAT’S ON: Artefact Athens presents Wanderlust / All Passports, an evocative contemporary art exhibition curated by Kostas Prapoglou, set within the storied walls of the Schliemann–Melas mansion in the heart of Athens. This remarkable venue, built in 1890 by the legendary architect Ernst Ziller for Heinrich Schliemann, is a testament to Greek cultural heritage, tradition, and national identity. From its early days as the residence of Schliemann’s family to its time as a wartime school, an office complex, and a historic hub for Athenian society, the mansion now steps into a new era as a cultural destination before its eventual transformation into a grand hotel.
The exhibition examines the many dimensions of travel—literal, existential, and emotional. Drawing on the concept of the Homeric journey, Wanderlust / All Passports invites audiences to consider travel not only as a means of exploration but also as a vehicle for introspection, self-discovery, and connection across time. The grandeur of the Schliemann–Melas mansion becomes an active participant in this narrative, its architecture embodying Athens’ complex historical and cultural evolution. Each corridor, hall, and chamber invites viewers into an immersive journey, linking the past and present in a flowing, introspective trail.
Curator Kostas Prapoglou brings together 44 contemporary artists from Greece and abroad, creating a dynamic dialogue on themes of connectivity, identity, and the intersection of ancient and modern. Through site-specific installations, video art, sculptures, and paintings, the artists transform the space into an introspective labyrinth, exploring questions that resonate in today’s hyperconnected world. Is it the thrill of the unknown that fuels our journeys? Or perhaps the technology that makes distant places feel near? These questions merge with reflections on Schliemann’s fervor for antiquities, revisiting his journey as an archaeologist and his pursuit of legacy and cultural meaning.
Wanderlust / All Passports invites visitors to travel metaphorically across time and place, and, in the process, discover a new perspective on personal and collective journeys. In breathing new life into the mansion, this exhibition offers not only a chance to admire its architectural beauty but also an opportunity to engage with deeper reflections on identity, interconnectedness, and the shared human quest for meaning.
WHEN: Until 17 November, 2024, Exhibition Hours: Thursday – Friday – Saturday – Sunday: 3:30pm – 8:30pm
WHERE: Schliemann-Melas mansion, Panepistimiou 46, 105 64, Athens, Greece
CONTACT:
www.artefact-athens.org
