Athens Biennale Review: Eclipse Explores Opacity, Surveillance and Cosmic Creativity
The 7th Athens Biennale, named Eclipse and overseen by Omsk Social Club alongside Larry Ossei-Mensah, takes place from 24 September to 28 November at multiple locations in Athens. This exhibition delves into concepts such as the dichotomy of revealing information versus withholding meaning, resisting surveillance, and exploring cosmic imagination. Featured artworks include Andrew Roberts's Cargo sculpture (2020), hyperrealistic Barbies by Cajsa von Zeipel, Jacolby Satterwhite's video Birds in Paradise (2017–19), and Rodney McMillian's Preacher Man (2015). Suzanne Treister showcases watercolors focused on AI, while Navine G. Khan-Dossos presents a mural that fuses traditional designs. Additional contributors are Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Kayode Ojo, Yorgos Prinos, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Ndayé Kouagou, and Erica Scourti. Steve McQueen's End Credits (2012–) at the Onassis Foundation examines the constraints of surveillance.
Key facts
- 7th Athens Biennale titled Eclipse runs 24 September to 28 November
- Curated by Omsk Social Club and Larry Ossei-Mensah
- Main venues include abandoned department store and Santaroza Courthouse
- Features works exploring information revelation versus meaning withholding
- Includes Steve McQueen's End Credits at Onassis Foundation
- Rodney McMillian's Preacher Man repurposes Sun Ra's 1967 interview
- Jacolby Satterwhite's Birds in Paradise blends Yoruba rituals with digital animation
- Suzanne Treister's watercolors merge AI research with interdimensional travel
Entities
Artists
- Andrew Roberts
- Cajsa von Zeipel
- Jacolby Satterwhite
- Rodney McMillian
- Suzanne Treister
- Navine G. Khan-Dossos
- Paul Mpagi Sepuya
- Kayode Ojo
- Yorgos Prinos
- Kameelah Janan Rasheed
- Ndayé Kouagou
- Erica Scourti
- Steve McQueen
- Sun Ra
- John Sinclair
- Paul Robeson
- Hilma af Klint
- Douglas Adams
- George Romero
Institutions
- Athens Biennale
- Onassis Foundation
- Omsk Social Club
- FBI
Locations
- Athens
- Greece
- Chios
- Belgium
- United States