News & Events


Photosynkyria Press Release & Program

A Vindication of Tlön
An exploration of photography & the fantastic
Photosynkyria 2001, Thessaloniki, Greece

Borges, in Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius, invents not one but two intertwined worlds: Uqbar, a mysterious country lying between Khorasan and Armenia, and Tlön, the imaginary world whose description is the sole concern of Uqbar’s writers. In turn, the metaphysicians of Tlön "do not seek for the truth or even verisimilitude, but rather for the astounding. They judge that metaphysics is a branch of fantastic literature". Not merely the metaphysics, but the zoology and topography of Tlön are fantastic; briefly and in passing, as though appalled or embarrassed, Borges mentions "its transparent tigers and towers of blood". In a postscript dated 1947, he recounts his discovery of a centuries-old conspiracy devoted to the creation of an all-embracing Encyclopaedia of Tlön -- perhaps "the vastest undertaking ever carried out by man". As more volumes of the encyclopaedia are brought to light, the author realises that study of the virtual world of Tlön, a facsimile twice removed from reality, is proving more attractive to humanity than that of the real world.

From its earliest days, and in reaction to its supposedly representational nature, photography has shown a perverse predilection for the fantastic, a tendency greatly reinforced by recent developments in digital imagery. The subject of photography and the fantastic will be explored in depth by the Photosynkyria 2001 International Photography Festival, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, between February and March, 2001. Curated by John Stathatos, the guest artistic director, Photosynkyria will include A Vindication of Tlön, a major group exhibition of newly commissioned work in the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art; a number of satellite one-person shows; and a one-day conference with presentations and lectures by artists, critics and art historians. A monograph devoted to the subject is to be published on the occasion by the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, the institution responsible for Photosynkyria.

A Vindication of Tlön will present exciting new work by Joan Fontcuberta (Spain), Wojciech Prazmowski (Poland), Mari Mahr (UK), Victor Koen (USA), Erasmus Schroeter (Germany), Susan Trangmar (UK), Holly King (Canada), Eric Emo (France), Simon Read (UK), Philip George (Australia), Lynn Silverman (USA), Haris Zevlaris (Cyprus), Nikos Panayotopoulos (Greece), Olga Kaloussi (Greece/Germany), Eleni Maligoura (Greece) and others. Among the associated solo exhibitions will be A Cabinet of Photographic Curiosities by Buratonni & Abrioux (France), Joan Fontcuberta’s recent Semiopolis series, Riwan Tromeur’s (France) extensive installation Des Grands Nords, Lizzie Calligas’s Swimmers and a selection of Erasmus Schroeter’s hallucinatory Bunkers.

Also part of Photosynkyria 2001 will be a number of solo exhibitions lying outside the principal theme, including Chambres by Jean-Jacques Dicker (Switzerland) and The Fringes of the City by the young Greek photographer Hector Dimissianos. The organisers are particularly pleased to announce the first ever exhibition of photographic work by the well-known art historian and critic Ian Jeffrey. Finally, the opening of A Vindication of Tlön on February 24th will see the world premiere of a new composition commissioned from the composer Panayotis Lefteris, whose work will also be heard, together with that of other contemporary Greek composers, in a special concert.

Overall, Photosynkyria 2001 will present nearly thirty exhibitions in a wide variety of venues across the city of Thessaloniki, ranging from a deconsecrated mosque and a disused steam bath to major museums, foreign cultural associations, commercial galleries and cafes, as well as a number of satellite events.

Contact Information:

Synkyria
Thessaloniki Museum of Photography
Mitropoleos 23,
Thessaloniki 546 23, Greece
e-mail: <thmphoto@magnet.gr>
Fax: + (30) 31 286 847

Curator
John Stathatos
e-mail: <tlon@daedala.com>

Note:

Borges's short story "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" was first published in the collection The Garden of Forking Paths (1941), and was later included in the volume of collected short stories called Fictions. Fictions has appeared in English translation several times as a self-contained volume under that title. "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" is included in the recent Collected Fictions translated by Andrew Hurley (Allen Lane).

Photosynkyria Program

PHOTOSYNKYRIA 2001
THESSALONIKI, FEBRUARY - MARCH 2001
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY

01 / GEORGE SEFERIS, PHOTOGRAPHER

16 FE-29 APR 2001
NATIONAL BANK CULTURAL FOUNDATION
"THESSALONIKI CENTER"
VASILISSIS OLGAS 108
TEL 295170 FAX 295176
TU-SU 10:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00 CLOSED MONDAYS

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY

02 / STEFANOS PANAYIOTIDIS [GREECE]
VIRTUAL RELATIONSHIPS
17 FE-10 MA 2001
APOGEIO GALLERY
POLYTECHNIOU 41
TEL 510832, 539266
MO- SA: 09:00-21:00

03 / GIORGOS KARAVERGOS [GREECE]
KIRLIAN PHOTOGRAPHY
17 FE-10 MA 2001
APOGEIO GALLERY
POLYTECHNIOU 41
TEL 510832, 539266
MO- SA: 09:00-21:00

04 / VIVI KYRLI [GREECE] [TLÖN]
17 FE-10 MA 2001
CAFFÉ STRETTO
KAROLOU DIEL 18 / TEL 275159
DAILY 09:00-03:00

05 / CHRISTOS KALOS [GREECE]
KOSSOVO
17 FE-10 MA 2001
NIKIS TRIANTAPENTE COFFEE-BAR
LEOFOROS NIKIS 35
TEL 230449
DAILY 10:30-03:00; SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY

06 / NIKOS FAZOS [GREECE]
TRANSPARENT LANDSCAPES
18 FE-10 MA 2001
DIMIOURGIA CAFÉ-GALLERY
4, AGIOS GEORGIOS SQUARE
[THE ROTUNDA AREA] / TEL 200617
DAILY 10:30-02:00

07 / MARIA SIRINOPOULOU [GREECE]
BALLO IN MASCHERA
18 FE-10 MA 2001
DE FACTO
PAVLOU MELA 19
TEL 263674
DAILY 10:30-03:00
MONDAY 19 FEBRUARY

08 / CHRISTOS NIKOLAIDIS [GREECE]
ARISTOTELOUS SQUARED
19 FE-4 MA 2001
UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA EXHIBITION HALL
EGNATIA 156 / TEL 891101
MO- FR: 11:00-13:00 18:00-21:00; SA : 10:00-14:00

09 / TASSOS SCHIZAS [GREECE] [TLÖN]
MEMORIES OF THE UNDERWORLD
19 FE-10 MA 2001
DOMOS BOOKSTORE-GALLERY
KASTRITSIOU 10
TEL 240431 FAX 287622
MO, WE, SA: 09:30-15:00; TU, TH, FR: 09:30-14:30, 18:00-20:30

TUESDAY 20 FEBRUARY

10 / HECTOR DIMISSIANOS [GREECE]
THE FRINGES OF THE CITY
ETHNIKIS AMYNIS ART GALLERY
ETHNIKIS AMYNIS 9A
TEL 288393
MO-FR 10:00-13:00, 18:00-21:00; SA-SU 10:00-13:00

11 / NIKOS KOUKIS [GREECE]
EARTH MERGED WITH FIRE
20 FE-3 MA 2001
ATRION GALLERY
TSIMISKI 94
TEL 285890 FAX 286165
MO, WE, SA: 10:00-14:30; TU, TH, FR: 10:00-14:00, 18:00-20:30

12 / CHRISTOS APOSTOLAKIS [GREECE]
DOUBLE WORLDS
20 FE- 10 MA 2001
TERRACOTTA GALLERY
CHRYSOSTOMOU SMYRNIS 13 AND MITROPOLEOS 76
TEL 235689 FAX 220191
MO, WE, SA:10:00-14:30; TU, TH, FR: 10:00-14:30 18:00-20:00

 WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY

13 / LIZZIE CALLIGAS [GREECE] [TLÖN]
SWIMMERS
21 FE-10 MA 2001
YMCA EXHIBITION HALL
YMCA SQUARE / TEL 241007
MO-FR 10:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00; SA 10:00-14:30

14 / EVA KATSAITIS [GREECE]
AND LOOK OUT FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHS...
21 FE-10 MA 2001
AMALGAMA [ARTISTS' INITIATIVE]
MITSAION 7
TEL 214757
MO-SU: 18:00-21:00

15 / NATASSA MARKIDOU [GREECE] [TLÖN]
MONUMENTS
AAS GALLERY 1
21 FE- 9 MA 2001
AAS GALLERY
ERMOU 59
TEL 277582, 220807
MO-FR: 11:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00, ; SA:11:00-14:00

16 / BURATTONI & ABRIOUX (FRANCE) [TLÖN]
A CABINET OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CURIOSITIES
21 FE- 9 MA 2001
AAS GALLERY 2
ERMOU 59
TEL 277582, 220807
MO-FR: 11:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00, ; SA:11:00-14:00

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY

17 / PANAYOTIS PAPADIMITROPOULOS (GREECE)
LIKE A PHOTOMONTAGE
Ianos BOOKSTORE GALLERY
22 FE-10 MA 2001
IANOS BOOKSTORE-GALLERY
ARISTOTELOUS 7
TEL 276447 FAX 284832
MO- FR: 09:00-20:30; SA : 09:00-15:00

18 / STELIOS EFSTATHOPOULOS [GREECE] [TLÖN]
HYPOTHETICAL LANDSCAPES INFLUENCED BY HOPE
22 FE-8 MA 2001
PARATIRITIS BOOKSTORE / GALLERY
PALEON PATRON GERMANOU 25
TEL 264958 FAX 244969
MO, WE, SA: 09:30-14:30; TU, TH, FR: 09:30-14:30, 18:00-20:30

 19 / MARK HADJIPATERAS [GREECE -USA] [TLÖN]
PHOTO-SCULPTURE "SECTIONS" SERIES
22 FE-10 MA 2001
KALFAYAN GALLERY
MITROPOLEOS 72
TEL 231187 FAX231820
MO, WE, SA: 10:00-14:00
TU, TH, FR 10:00-14:00,18:30-21:30; SA: 10:00-15:00 CLOSED SUN DAYS

20 / JEAN-JACQUES DICKER (SWITZERLAND)
CHAMBRES
ORGANISED BY PHOTOARCHIVES IDES ET CALENDES, M+M AUER
22 FE-10 MA 2001
EIRMOS GALLERY
LEOFOROS NIKIS 17 / TEL 222863
MO-FR: 11:00-13:30, 18:30-21:30; SA: 11:00-13:30

21 / IAN JEFFREY (GREAT BRITAIN)
A BESTIARY
CO-ORGANIZED BY THE BRITISH COUNCIL
22 FE-3 MA 2001
ZITA-MI GALLERY
PROXENOU KOROMILA, 1
TEL 270636
MO, WE, SA: 09:30-14:30; TU, TH, FR: 09:30-14:30, 18:00-20:30

22 / STELLA AYIANNITI [GREECE]
22 FE-05 AP 2001
FRENCH INSTITUTE / GALERIE GILLES CARON
LEOFOROS STRATOU 2A
TEL 855303, 830574, 821231
FAX 841283
MO-SA: 11:00-13:00,18:00-21:00

23 / RIWAN TROMEUr [FRANCE] [TLÖN]
DES GRANDS NORDS
22 FE-05 AP 2001
FRENCH INSTITUTE / ART GALLERY
LEOFOROS STRATOU 2A
TEL 855303, 830574, 821231
FAX 841283
MO-SA: 11:00-13:00,18:00-21:00

FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY

24 / LUIS POIROT [CHILE]
PERSONAL MOMENTS OF PABLO NERUDA
CO-ORGANISED BY THE CONSULATE OF CHILE
16 FE-29 APR 2001
NATIONAL BANK CULTURAL FOUNDATION
VASILISSIS OLGAS 108
TEL 295170 FAX 295176
TU-SU 10:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00 CLOSED MONDAYS

25 / MARIALBA RUSSO (ITALY) [TLÖN]
INCANTESIMO
23 FE-9 MA 2001
ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA
FLEMING 1B
TEL 857155, 843868 FAX 812057
MO-FR: 10:00-13:00, 18:00-21:00

26 / JOAN FONTCUBERTA (SPAIN) [TLÖN]
SEMIOPOLIS
YENI DJAMI
SUPPORTED BY THE HELLENIC-SPANISH ASSOCIATION
23FE- 18 MA 2001
YENI TZAMI
ARCHAIOLOGIKOU MOUSSIOU 30
TEL 857978
TU-FR: 09:00-13:00, 17:00-21:00 ; SA: 17:00-21:00, SU: 09:00-13:00

SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY

27 / ERIC EMO (FRANCE) [TLÖN]
CHIMERES

28 / PHILLIP GEORGE (AUSTRALIA) [TLÖN]
SECRET IKONS

29 / VIKTOR KOEN (USA) [TLÖN]
TRANSMIGRATIONS

30 / ERASMUS SCHROETER [GERMANY] [TLÖN]
BUNKERS
ORGANISED BY THE GOETHE-INSTITUT

31 / SEAN KERNAN (USA) [TLÖN]
THE SECRET BOOKS

32 / A VINDICATION OF TLÖN
Lizzie Calligas (Gr) / Eric Emo (F) / Stelios Efstathopoulos (Gr) / Joan Fontcuberta (Sp) / Philip George (Aus) / Mark Hadjipateras (USA) / Olga Kaloussi (Gr) / Holly King (Ca) / Viktor Koen (USA) / Yannis Konstantinou (Gr) / Maggie Lambert (GB) / Mari Mahr (GB) / Eleni Maligoura (Gr) / Natassa Markidou (Gr) Despina Meimaroglou (Gr) / ¶milios Morgiannidis (Gr) / Nikos Panayotopoulos (Gr) / Wojciech Prazmowski (Poland) / Simon Read (GB) / Erasmus Schroeter (D) / Lynn Silverman (USA) / Susan Trangmar (GB) / Panos Vardopoulos (Gr) / Nayia Yiakoumaki (Gr) / Haris Zevlaris (Cy)

24 FE- 24 MA 2001
MACEDONIAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
TEL 240002 FAX 281567
TU-SA: 10:00-14:00,18:00-21:00; SU: 11:00-15:00

OTHER EVENTS:

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY 12:00 AM
PRESS CONFERENCE
MACEDONIAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY 17:30 AM
 FERDY CARABOTT SEMINAR: PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOUND
BRITISH COUNCIL AUDITORIUM
Ethnikis Amynis 9
TEL 235236-7, 285570

FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 11:00 AM
 CONFERENCE 2001
BRITISH COUNCIL AUDITORIUM

All lectures and discussions in english or translated into english

Yves Abrioux (France)
Costis Antoniadis (Gr)
Joan Fontcuberta (Spain)
Emmanuel Hermange (France)
Ian Jeffrey (UK)
Holly King (Canada)
Erasmus Schroeter (D)

SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 19:00

EchoSynkyria
MUSEUM OF BYZANTINE CULTURE / FOYER
PRESENTING CONTEMPORARY GREEK CHAMBER MUSIC


Return to Borges News