“THE GREEN PATH”

Curators: Barbara Polla & Marios Fournaris

 

Once upon a time the hills of Perama were green woods. Then came the war, then came the needs. The forest disappeared, the people stayed, and worked: the cranes became their trees. Pollution by petrol (Shell refineries) and sewage (from Saronic Gulf, sent to Psytalia) has been harming Perama for decades.

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Today, on the one hand, Perama is facing new ecological challenges such as, in particular, the new regional planning of waste management in Attica (in Schisto, at the border between Keratsini and Perama) and the expansion of the commercial port. On the other hand, the current ecological awareness is changing the rules and Perama is aiming to become an ecological model for possible green futures, whatever the past. As an example, at the entry of Perama, the tanks are starting to be removed and soon a park will grow there, and trees replacing petrol will revive our future.

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Artists are pioneers and eco-art paves the way for a new ecology, where homo ecologicus will create an “ecosophic” society (ecosophy is a concept articulated by Félix Guattari in the 1980s, in France.) By drawing attention to the frailty of our ecosystems, the eco-artists lead us, with their art, to understand the urgent need for action. As alterations of nature correlate with alterations in human life, revival of our natural environment will correlate with the revival of our humanity. We need to re-examine the humanistic values of the past as we are aiming for the creation and implementation of a sustainable society, based on social, economical and environmental growth. ”The Green Path” is one approach towards a New Humanism in the 21st century, advocating – in this case through art – for protection of nature and respect for every living being on this planet, within a world that is represented by a diversity of identities and by heterogeneity of interests. Art here is also understood as a path towards real democracy, as argued last century by American philosopher John Dewey. Moreover, through their emphasis on the human factor, eco-artists indicate a path towards hope. From eco-art, from eco-artists from Greece and from the world, we may discover, together with their stunning artworks, new paths for a more ecological local and global life.

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The exhibition will take place in the Museum of Fishery and Shipbuilding of Fishery Boats in Perama, an ancient museum that has not been opened to public for a long time. Fishing is as anchored into remote times as is the history of the Mediterranean, and has been and still is determining much of the Greek living spaces. We will keep inside the Museum the vitrines that present ancient working material and instruments used once upon a time by shipbuilders and fishermen. The exhibition will integrate these essential objects of the past and make use of them to draw a vision of the future of Perama, and beyond. The exhibition will also activate and revitalize this beautiful space and give it back to the inhabitants of the city, functional for future use.

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International Advisor: Paul Ardenne (author of Un art écologique, création plasticienne et anthropocène)

Exhibition: September 2021

 

Under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with the Municipality of Perama