Possibly in the Tallest Building, The Paddocks’ inaugural exhibition, brings together the work of seven Greek and international artists. Drawing inspiration from the storied past of the building that hosts our gallery, the exhibition delves into the profound and often unseen acts of agreement.
Exhibiting Artists: Claudio Coltorti, Barba Dee, Michael Fanta, Victoria Nianiou, Nana Seferli, Kleopatra Tsali, Kyvèli Zoi.
The Paddocks occupies the apartment on the first floor of a mid-century building constructed in 1958. Originally built as a family home, after 1975 it was used as a gambling den and later as an English language school, while from 1985 and for thirty-five consecutive years, it operated as a notary office. Now, it is being introduced as a contemporary art gallery committed to artistic engagement.
According to stories shared by the only resident today, Ms Maro — who grew up in it since the age of five — at the time of construction the building was possibly one of the tallest in the city’s centre following the devastating earthquake of 1955. The title of the exhibition Possibly in the Tallest Building draws a parallel between the reality of that time and today’s. It captures its height as a feature that now exists only in memory, as the surrounding contemporary buildings have made it perhaps one of the smallest in the area.
From intimate understandings to formal contracts, the premises have witnessed countless agreements through its previous uses, both formal or informal. The works in the exhibition engage conceptually and aesthetically with the earlier uses of the space, reflecting on the influence that agreements exert on human relationships. Through painting and sculpture, a dialogue unfolds around concepts of promise, proposal, acceptance, mutual understanding, and decision-making; concepts perhaps abstract yet familiar. Whether explicitly or implicitly, people’s lives intersect through such agreements, which affect — if not determine — personal narratives, interpersonal relationships, and the future daily.
* In Greek, the word “σύμβαση”, which is the main theme of the exhibition, carries a dual meaning; it means both agreements as an understanding between parties and a formal contract, as well as and ultimately a convention, suggesting an additional sense of consensus, especially in more intimate contexts.
The exhibition is held in collaboration with KYAN Athens.
Special thanks to Athanasios Koutromanos, Eleni Lozou, Stavros Anetopoulos, Sara Hutton, Alexia Pappa, Maria Chassioti, Adriana Soley Livanos, Efi Saiti, Maro Dimotsiou.
