An international art exhibition titled “Cultivating in Post-Industrial Landscapes” will take place on July 16, 2025, for the third time in the city of Aspropyrgos, gathering this year 21 young international artists from diverse artistic backgrounds.
This event is a collaboration between Emilia Bouriti | Syn+Ergasia Art Platform and the international university group “Shared Campus – Critical Ecologies.”
This collaboration aims to immerse the foreign artists in the unique environment of Aspropyrgos and the Thriasio Plain, allowing them to learn from the agricultural land and the post-industrial landscapes surrounding it, while encouraging the exchange of knowledge and stories with local communities.
The date July 16, the eve of Saint Marina, is chosen as the day of the exhibition’s presentation since Aspropyrgos is closely associated with the celebration of Saint Marina, which takes place at the humble chapel located in the agricultural area of Aspropyrgos.
The program is curated by Heather Barnett, Andreas Kohli, and Joëlle Bitton, in collaboration with Emilia Bouriti | Syn+Ergasia Art Platform, Georgios Papadopoulos, and the [sic] Space for International Cooperation.
The central theme of the exhibition revolves around capturing the artists’ experiences with the rural Arvanite community, the deep connection with the land, agricultural cultivation, the post-industrial landscape, cultural heritage, and the environment.
The exhibition features 21 talented and passionate young artists, each coming from different countries around the world. These creative artists completed a collective journey in Aspropyrgos and the Thriasio Plain, aiming to draw inspiration from its unique and complex environment.
The artists begin their collaboration with Emilia Bouriti through her lecture “Participatory Art as Public Art, Political Stance, and a Tool for Community Interaction”, as well as her workshop on “Participatory Methodologies and Cultural Heritage.”
The artists continue with a three-day immersive workshop on farms in Aspropyrgos, in collaboration with farmers such as Mr. Dimitris Chatzis and Ms. Antigoni Liosi, and tree cultivators like Mr. Thanasis Serepas.
A workshop teaching songs of the oral Arvanite language to the international artists is also conducted, as it is a key element of the city’s cultural heritage, by the Syn+Ergasia singing group.
The instructors are: Ms. Mary Avraam, Ms. Eleni Dara, Ms. Koula Liosi, Ms. Mary Kapsala, Ms. Katina Neroutsou, and Ms. Kaiti Neroutsou.
The event is part of the program “Extractive Realities and Ecological Resonances”, organized by the University of the Arts London and the Zurich University of the Arts, with students from the entire Shared Campus network: Seika University Kyoto, National Taipei University of the Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, Singapore University of the Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, and City University of Hong Kong / School of Creative Media.
Participating artists: Karya Anliak, Anoushka Badola, Lia Bellini, Belén Fernández, Nevin Götschmann, Joana Felicia Hirt, Maeve Huthwaite, Yo Ichimaru, Ai Kawamura, Peer Langenheim, Maia Gazzella, Yana Nenkova, Caja Peters, Amalia Popescu, Arash Rafiei Karkavandi, Owen Sin, Hakata Takahashi, Ayano Ueda, Praba Velayudham, Yi-Ju Wang, Mingchi Yan.
THE EXHIBITION MOVES TO ATHENS
Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 20:00
At [SIC] Space for International Cooperation
Nileos 6, Athens 11851
A Few Words About the Summer School
The Summer School “Extractive Realities and Ecological Resonances” at the Thriasio Plain explores issues of extractivism and ecological impacts. Through a two-week residency, a group of international art and design students connects with local artists, communities, and organizations, immersing themselves in the unique environments of Athens, Elefsina, and Aspropyrgos.
The summer school allows them to learn from the agricultural land and the post-industrial landscapes, while also encouraging the exchange of knowledge and stories with local communities, providing a deep connection to the land, culture, and environment.
The summer school is organized by the Shared Campus Critical Ecologies group and includes a wide range of creative practices and discussions related to the ecological emergency the world faces and its impact on economies, communities, and cultures.
The educational activities aim to connect multiple voices, promote empathy, and strengthen the ties between the arts, culture, and sustainability.
Organizers
Critical Ecologies Shared Campus — shared-campus.com/about
Emilia Bouriti | Syn+Ergasia Art Platform
[sic] Space for International Cooperation www.sic-athens.com
