Deste Foundation's Dream Machines: Capturing the Questions of Our Time at Hydra Island's Slaughterhouse Exhibition
Venture With Us To The Picturesque Hydra Island, Greece, Where The Convergence Of Art, Technology, And Imagination Takes Center Stage.
Dominique Catherina Foertig
DESTE Foundation 2024 with works by artist George Condo at DESTE Foundation Greece
In This Captivating Exploration, We Delve Into The "Dream Machines" Exhibition At The DESTE Foundation Slaughterhouse Project.
Discover Hydra Island with Munchies Art Club Magazine
Join Us As We Navigate The Compelling Intersections Of Contemporary Art And The Ever-Evolving World Of Technology.
As We Stand At The Crossroads Of A Technological Revolution, 'Dream Machines' Challenges Us To Question Our Role In Shaping The Future.
Should We Embrace The Ever-Evolving World Of Technology, Or Do We Need To Carve Out New Spaces Of Creative Resistance In This Digital Era?
The Mad and the Lonely by George Condo that will take place at DESTE’s Project Space on Hydra island.
The exhibition will be on view between June 18th, 2024 and October 31st, 2024.
These Are The Thought-Provoking Questions That Surfaced During Our Recent Holiday On Hydra Island, Greece, Where Munchies Art Club Had The Privilege To Visit The "Dream Machines" Exhibition At The Deste Foundation Slaughterhouse Project.
With works by ACM, Thomas Bayrle, Emery Blagdon, Lee Bul, Maurizio Cattelan, Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg, Marcel Duchamp, Cao Fei, Urs Fischer, Fischli & Weiss, H.R. Giger, Brion Gysin, Camille Henrot, Judith Hopf, Jeff Koons, Mire Lee, Ulf Linde, Abu Bakarr Mansaray, James Tilly Matthews, Jakob Mohr, Vera Molnar, Henrik Olesen, Philippe Parreno, Seth Price, William Reich, Pipilotti Rist, Pamela Rosenkranz, Mika Rottenberg, Sturtevant, Takis, Andro Wekua, Ulla Wiggen, and Anicka Yi.
Thrilled To Find Ourselves Back On Hydra Island For The Second Time This Year, This Place Holds A Special Significance For My Wife, Who Spent Her Formative Years Here. Every Year, We Eagerly Anticipate Discovering What's On View At The Slaughterhouse, And Once Again, It Did Not Disappoint.
DESTE SLAUGHTERHOUSE: NAVIGATING THE FUTURE ON HYDRA ISLAND, GREECE
Last year, we were among those utterly captivated by Jeff Koons' iconic Apollo sculpture, which has found a permanent home on this picturesque island, now establishing itself as an indelible landmark.
The transformation of the old Slaughterhouse building into a contemporary art space by the DESTE Foundation has been nothing short of remarkable.
Amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, we've had the privilege of witnessing extraordinary works by artists like Urs Fisher, Mathew Barney, and Jeff Koons in recent years.
Deste Foundation on Instagram
And now, there's a palpable buzz about an upcoming group show in the next season that we can't wait to explore.
During our stay on Hydra, I serendipitously stumbled upon the mastermind behind the Deste project—or at least his yacht, "Guilty," lazily moored in the port one day.
Meanwhile: A RAZZLE DAZZLE VESSEL
This 35-meter eye-catching vessel, commissioned by entrepreneur Dakis Joannou from artist Jeff Koons and designed by Ivana Porfiri, features geometric designs inspired by British naval camouflage from World War I, known as Razzle Dazzle Painting.
The yacht itself doubles as an open-air museum, housing notable art pieces, including "Guilty" by Sarah Morris, showcased in one of its cabins.
Here's a fun fact: my diploma work at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna also featured three large Razzle Dazzle-inspired images of broken cement walls.
Judged at the time by reknown artist Erwin Wurm who also has a house on the Island.
These coincidences once again underscore the interconnectedness of the art world.
Deste Foundation Athens Greece with a spoiler: Georg Condo the Mad and the Lonely
But let's now shift our focus to the main attraction of this article: the current exhibition at Deste Foundation, Slaughter House Project, Hydra Island , "Dream Machines."
Due to the scorching heat and the relentless sun, we made our way to the slaughterhouse exhibition around 8 o'clock in the evening.
Fortunately, a gentle breeze had emerged, accompanying us from the sea, and the slight coolness in the hot August evening was a welcome relief.
STUNNING EXPLORATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND IMAGINATION: "DREAM MACHINES" UNVEILED AT DESTE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Upon reading the exhibition's title, "Dream Machines," I couldn't help but recall Philip K. Dick's science fiction classic, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".
This novel delves into themes of empathy, artificial intelligence, and the essence of humanity. In this exhibition, the artists and curators provoke us with dreams and questions about our future.
"Dream Machines," curated by Daniel Birnbaum and Massimiliano Gioni, transcends the boundaries of traditional art exhibitions.
Nestled within the cavernous confines of the DESTE Slaughterhouse in Hydra, this groundbreaking exhibition delves deep into the profound impact of technology on the human imagination.
It takes us on a mesmerizing journey, from the reinterpretation of Marcel Duchamp's iconic 'Coffee Mill' to a glimpse into the virtual realm of recent experiments, all set in an endless mechanical ballet—an authentic 'bachelor machine,' borrowing Duchamp's term.
This captivating exhibition seamlessly blends timeless treasures from the Dakis Joannou Collection with innovative, newly commissioned works. Among the historical figures featured are Duchamp and Wilhelm Reich, while contemporary luminaries like Jeff Koons, Pipilotti Rist, and Rosenkranz share the spotlight.
The exhibit also welcomes a diverse array of self-taught outsiders into its thought-provoking narrative.
Deste Foundation Greece, Hydra Island (Nightview) with a Sculpture by Judith Hopf called " Phone User 5"Sculpute by Judith Hopf, Phone User 5 | Insight: Video by Cao Fei " OZ" Not visible: Takis "Kadran Dial" 1974 | Exhibition Dream Machines Hydra Island Greece
In light of Ray Kurzweil's predictions of a utopian singularity driven by Artificial Intelligence, and the juxtaposition of a surveillance economy with compromised essential human rights, "Dream Machines" leaves us with an open question: should artists celebrate emerging technologies, ignore them, or emerge as champions of a new resistance?
The exhibition beckons you to contemplate these profound inquiries, immersing you in a realm where art and technology intertwine seamlessly.
Spoiler alert: A local informant informed us that next year, a renowned painter "George Condo", will showcase 2024 his fantastic work on the Hydra Island.
WHAT IS DESTE FOUNDATION AND PROJECT HYDRA SLAUGHTERHOUSE?
The DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art, founded by collector Dakis Joannou in 1983, is a non-profit institution headquartered in Geneva.
Read more about Hydra Island -> Munchies Art Club Magazine
With its exhibition space in Athens, Greece, DESTE is dedicated to promoting emerging and established artists, expanding the reach of contemporary art, supporting young talents, and exploring the intersections of contemporary art and culture.
The name "DESTE" means "LOOK" in Greek, and indeed, the exhibition and the artists it showcases are nothing short of eye-catching.
In addition to its ongoing Athens exhibition program, the DESTE Foundation extends its cultural impact beyond city limits.
In 2008, the historic slaughterhouse on Hydra Island was entrusted to DESTE by the Municipality.
After meticulous restoration, it now stands as a captivating exhibition venue, seamlessly blending its rich past with contemporary art.
More about the Deste Foundation: Georg Condo 2024
George Condo is an American contemporary visual artist known for his distinctive style that blends elements of classical European art with a contemporary sensibility. He was born on November 10, 1957, in Concord, New Hampshire, USA.
Condo is renowned for his unique and often provocative paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints, which often depict distorted and exaggerated figures in a surreal and psychologically charged manner. His work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums worldwide, and he has gained significant recognition for his contributions to the contemporary art scene.
Condo's artistry has been influential in shaping the trajectory of contemporary figurative painting, earning him a prominent place in the art world
It offers an annual summer series of exhibitions that spotlight both established and emerging artists.
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