Culture of Crisis: The Visual Arts in Greece since 2008

Suite (212)

In this month's Resonance 104.4fm show, Juliet talks to artist Eirene Efstathiou and curator/writer iLiana Fokianaki, founder of the State of Concept gallery in Athens, about the visual art scene in Greece since the financial crash of 2007-2008, which badly affected the country. They discuss the impact on the arts of EU-mandated austerity, the rise and fall of the far-right Golden Dawn, the election of Syriza on a left-wing platform and the oxi referendum of 2015, the migration crisis, the return to party of New Democracy and the strict Covid-19 lockdown measures. They also consider the nature of Greek arts funding, what the decision to co-host Documenta 14 in Kassel and Athens said about Greece's relationship with Germany and the EU, and what it means to be a politically engaged artist in a time of crisis. A full list of references is available for Patreon subscribers - go to https://www.patreon.com/suite212 to sign up. Cover image by Eirene Efstathiou; our theme music is 'Aus' by Fennesz.