Celebrating 20 years of existence, the Athens Biennale is taking the next step by restructuring the organization, which includes the formation of a Board of Trustees, an Advisory Board, and a Curatorial Committee. 

Over the first two decades, the Biennale managed, despite the difficulties, to continue its work as an independent institution, serving as a platform for artistic production and dialogue with the international contemporary art community. The Biennale’s original goal was to place Athens on the international map of contemporary art. Amid a reality of fluidity and uncertainty, the Biennale is entering a new era with the aim of reinventing itself, seeking to establish itself as the leading progressive platform for contemporary art in Europe.

Dakis Joannou, Poka-Yio, Thiago de Paula Souza (c) Nysos Vasilopoulos

The 8th Athens Biennale is the first event to take place within this new framework. For the first time, the curator was selected following a recommendation by an international Curatorial Advisory Committee, comprising Katerina Gregou, Massimiliano Gioni, Stefanie Hessler, and Gabi Ngcobo. The selection of Thiago de Paula Souza reflects a curatorial practice with international experience.

Title of the 8th Biennale: STASIS/EKSTASIS. The exhibition emerges from the interplay between historical contexts and contemporary concerns, avoiding both their mere representation and the instrumentalization of these issues. How can we remain vigilant and resist silence or indifference in the face of current events? The title STASIS/EKSTASIS is shaped by these two related aspects, revealing the nuances that characterize the contemporary condition.