Group exhibition a.O. – b.c. examines Greek national identity through post-Olympic, pre-crisis art

The exhibition a.O. – b.c.: An Audiovisual Diary explores contemporary Greek identity through artworks created between the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2010 sovereign debt crisis. Curated by Vicky Zioga, Electra Karatza, Maria Adela Konomi, Lydia Markaki, and iLiana Fokianaki, it features approximately 60 pieces from 80 contributors across two Athens venues: State of Concept in the Filopappou district and the Athens School of Fine Arts. Works include paintings, videos, installations, graphics, conceptual pieces, and photographs. Bill Balaskas's 2010 video Parthenon Rising (II) presents the Parthenon illuminated by ambiguous flashes, suggesting both Olympic fireworks and protest violence. Leda Papaconstantinou's 2007 film The City and the Sunset captures an Athenian sunset, contrasting ancient cyclical time with modern linear perspectives. Eirini Vourloumis's December Riots (2008) photographs document protests following the police killing of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, reflecting broader grievances. Vangelis Vlahos displays a photocopied 2004 U.S. ambassador report on Greek defense, highlighting budget priorities amid crisis. The artist duo Barking Dogs United's Property Offer (2009) uses aerial images of Edem Beach in Palaio Faliro to spell 'FOR SALE' with umbrellas, critiquing economic inequality. The exhibition addresses collective trauma, national pride, austerity, and unresolved psychological wounds, running through February 1, 2020.