Paper Moon exhibition
Paper Moon
(Hartino to Feggaraki)
Curated by:
Dr Thalia Vrachopoulos
Contemporary Art Museum of Crete
Opening: Friday, 1 June 2018
The Contemporary Art Museum of Crete at Rethymnon, proudly presented the exhibition Paper Moon (Hartino to Feggaraki) in which international artists participated. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Thalia Vrachopoulos and was on view from June 1st through September 15th, 2018. The aforementioned exhibition took place at the Contemporary Art Museum of Crete (32 Mesologhiou str.) as well as at Kara Mousha Pasha Mosque (at the junction of Arkadiou & Hugo str.).The opening reception took place at the museum on June 1st from 8PM on.
The show used as foil, the title from an old Greek song Only a Paper Moon (Hartino to Feggaraki) by the composer Manos Hatzidakis (1925-1994) with lyrics by Nikos Gatsos (1911-1992). It was written in 1949 for the play a Street Car Named Desire by Tennessee Williams which was performed at the Art Theatre “Karolos Koun”, starring Melina Mercouri .
The words refer to a world of illusion that for Hatzidakis meant one comprised of disenfranchised classes and fantasies for a better future. Gatsos’ lyrics reflect this concept of fleeting illusion “the sea will bring birds, and golden stars the wind, to touch your hair and kiss your hand, only paper is the moon, false is the seashore, if you believed me a little, all would be real.”
It is a love song that expresses Tennessee Williams’ concern as well as the Greek venture of its own production at the end of the Greek Civil War and in the beginning of an international situation called “the Cold War”.
The song’s lyrics are really timely regarding Greece of nowadays and the psychology of Greek people. Paper artworks -with the paper being a particularly sensitive material that requires special skills- express a contradiction of today as well as illusions against a cruel reality.
The participating artists coming from Greece, the U.S.A. and the Korea were the following: Eozen Agopian, Roya Amigh, Maria Anasazi, Lydia Venieri, Long-bin Chen, Joan Giordano, Giorgos Giotsas, Chistopher Doulgeris, Katerina Zacharopoulou, Ho Han, Ran Hwang, Tina Karageorgi, Maria Karametou, Marigo Kassi, Eirini Linardaki, Despo Magoni, Renee Magnati, Lu Mei, Eleni Mylona, Bill Pangburn, Vincent Parisot, Gahae Park, Lila Polenaki, Yun Ku Sang, Hoyoon Shin, Insoo Shin, Xin Song, Konstantinos Stamatiou, Mary Ting.
And the Hanji paper group: Jinei Cho, Young Joo Im, Keumsuk Park, Seonae Kim, Booduck Lee, Jaesu Um, Yang Bae Jun.
The table of narrations
Participatory performance by Katerina Zacharopoulou
During the exhibition’s opening in the evening, Katerina Zacharopoulou welcomed the audience and encourage visitors to take part in the participatory performance “The table of narrations” in the place where the artwork was. The audience was asked to “reveal” one by one all objects, miniatures that were wrapped and placed on the Table and each revelation was accompanied by a memory-narration said by the participants. When the aforementioned performance finished, the whole image of the Table of Narrations was completed and it remained this way during the whole exhibition.
Contrary to the other two last performances and installations of the play in 2017, firstly at ONASSIS CULTURAL CENTRE with Onassis Institute being the producer of the play and then at the 6th BIENNALE OF THESSALONIKI, under the topic Imaginary Homes, the play arrives “being wrapped” at Rethymno, the third station and in particular at the CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OF CRETE in the context of the exhibition Hartino to Feggaraki (Paper Moon). The audience will gradually be led to the revelation of the play and will focus on the utopia of desires, the ephemeral feature of residence and the moving- transfer as nowadays condition. Wrapping papers used for furniture reflect protection and preservation as they wrap memory as well. Their revelation gives a second chance to life so as to be arranged and signifies a restart in life along with its utopias, lies and truths.
Α catalogue of the exhibition was available.
The exhibition through September 15th, 2018 and, as always, guided tours and educational programmes were carried out.
Concurrent Activities:
Hanji Fashion Show
An important event with clothes created from the traditional Korean Paper, Hanji
Thursday, May 31st 2018, at 21:00
Place: ‘Mikrasiates’ Square, old town of Rethymno.
Hanji Fashion Show Creative Group presented the Korean culture regarding clothing by using the traditional Korean paper, Hanji as main component for clothes’ creation.
Hanji creations promote both tangible and intangible Korean cultural heritage. Architecture, painting, nature and intangible cultural heritage of the country are depicted in the groups’ creations.
Through this particular event, the audience had the chance to understand the Korean Hanji tradition as well as the emotional world of the Korean people.
Hanji is made from the inner bark of Paper Mulberry, a tree that has its origins in Korea and grows in its rocky mountains, known in Korean language as dak in Korean language.
This kind of paper appeared in ancient Korea in various forms either as writing paper, either for everyday constructions, medical equipment (bandages) or for book making (because of its high endurance).
A music performance by the musician Sung Mi Kang accompanied the show under the sounds of the traditional korean instrument Gayageum.
Visual Arts Workshops - Educational Programs:
May 30th 2018, at 10-12
Held by: Keum-suk Park, Kim Seonae, Jeon Yang-bae
Educational Programs on the Korean Tradition
Place: Visual Arts Workshops at the Educational Sector of the Contemporary Art Museum of Crete (8Chimaras str.).
The artists created traditional Korean art as dolls wearing traditional Korean costumes, traditional Korean ornaments and many other objects made from the traditional Korean paper, Hanji.
Hanji is made from the inner bark of Paper Mulberry, a tree that has its origins in Korea and grows in its rocky mountains.
May 31st, at 10-11
Renee Magnanti & Bill Pangburn
Place: Visual Arts Workshop at the Educational Sector of the Contemporary Art Museum of Crete (8 Chimaras str.).
During this Visual Arts workshop, children had the opportunity to make creations by understanding the beauty of monoprint method, using water-based inks and by combining this method with the one of paper weaving.
Renee Magnanti is an artist who lives and works in New York and was awarded many prizes for a great number of her artworks. She is famous for her very special sculpture technique in encaustic painting as well as her for unique approach to art by combining printings with the weaving art.
May 31st, at 11-12
Xin Song
Inspiring children’s creativity through the Art of Korea
Place: Visual Arts Workshop at the Educational Sector of the Contemporary Art Museum of Crete (8 Chimaras str.)
Using papercraft, painting and other techniques, children created various artworks by embracing the traditional Korean art within the framework of a modern concept.
Learning can be amusing!!!
May 31st, at 11-12
Vinsent Parisot
Educational program with makeshift stencil
Place: Visual Arts Workshop at the Educational Sector of the Contemporary Art Museum of Crete (8 Chimaras str.).
CONTACT:
CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OF CRETE
Community Enterprise of the Municipality of Rethymnon
32 Mesologhiou str., 74131, Rethymnon
Τ: +30 28310 52530, F: +30 28310 52689
E-mail: info@cca.gr • http\\:www.cca.gr
