The Syn+Ergasia Art Platform project team is organizing an international research workshop as part of a residency program, aiming to foster collaboration among researchers from the fields of science, education, and the arts to get acquainted with the city of Aspropyrgos. The researchers will study the city’s history, human resources, landscape characteristics, industrial and post-industrial as well as rural identity, along with its multicultural society.
Over the course of three days, the team will have the opportunity to explore the city’s dynamics and develop ideas and proposals aimed at creating a fruitful dialogue and collaboration for specific projects within the framework of the overall organization.
The workshop aims to bring together people from the fields of science, education, and the arts to familiarize themselves with the city of Aspropyrgos.
Some of the questions and challenges that revolve around the workshop’s themes include:
- What is the relationship today between the European citizen and food, and the right to cultivate land in a rural-industrial-post-industrial place?
- How can the community come closer through food cultivation, shared meals, and participatory artistic actions?
- What is the relationship of modern humans with their bodies, and how do they rediscover the environment through art?
- How do contemporary Europe and Aspropyrgos redefine their identities through the active role of immigrants, enriching their daily life and culture?
- What is happening with the future of oral languages and local dialects (such as the Arvanite language, which prevailed in the Thriasio area until 1940), as they are disappearing along with a part of cultural memory related to the traditions, customs, and rituals of the places?
- To what extent can art help the above function as sources of inspiration for collective events, performances, visual arts exhibitions, storytelling, open and formal educational programs, discussions, and conferences?
The invited researchers, during their five-day stay in the city of Aspropyrgos, will have the opportunity to study and analyze the city’s dynamics, which will lead them to develop ideas and proposals aimed at creating dialogue and collaboration for specific projects within the overall framework.
The team is international, consisting of scientists, researchers, and art theorists from European countries such as Italy, Sweden, Romania, and Greece.
DATE
November 22 to 24, 2019
LOCATION
Cultural Center of the Municipality of Aspropyrgos. The activities will include visits and meetings with the municipal authorities, local organizations, communities, associations, and guided tours in the countryside and the city (shops, industries and workshops, agricultural fields).
PARTNERS/ORGANIZERS
“Pantheon” Research Group of the Sorbonne University of France, Research Group of the Agricultural University of Athens, Ploiesti University of Romania, Agricultural Association of Aspropyrgos, Dr. Andromachi Oikonomou – Director of the Research Center of Greek Folklore at the Academy of Athens, along with other scientists and researchers.
Invited Speakers:
Dr. Razvan George Ripeanu, Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum and Gas University of Ploiești, Romania
Dr. Donato Martucci, Social Anthropologist, PhD at the Department of History, Society and Humanities Studies, University of Salento (Lecce), Italy
Pinelopi Bembeli, Professor, Director of the Laboratory of Plant Improvement & Agricultural Experimentation, Agricultural University of Athens
Panagiotis Ktenidis, Professor of the Graduate Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering at Western Attica University (P.A.D.A.), in Industrial Systems of Oil and Gas, based in Aspropyrgos
Dr. Andromachi I. Oikonomou, Research Director, Center for the Research of Greek Folklore, Academy of Athens
Olga Kesova, Art Historian, An Ordinary Day Film Festival, Gallery Studio 44, Stockholm, Sweden
Emilia Bouriti, Visual Artist, Performance Artist, Director of the Syn+Ergasia Art Platform
- Coordinated by Emilia Bouriti
Participants
Despina Boulogiorgou, Holder of a Master’s Degree in “Energy and Environmental Investments” from the Laboratory of Mild Energy Forms and Environmental Protection and the Laboratory of Production Systems Optimization of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Western Attica University (P.A.D.A.)
Maria Neanidou, Student Participant, Social Anthropology Student at Panteion University
Day 1: 22-11-2019
Day 2: 23-11-2019
Day 3: 24-11-2019
