18.07 - 18.08.2024
Cream Athens is delighted to present Overloaded, an exhibition of new works by 20 revolutionary artists, hosted at TAF, The Art Foundation, in the heart of Athens, Monastiraki.
In an era where information flows continuously, and all kinds of news often dominate the narrative, we find ourselves in a state of constant overload. Overloaded aims to dive into the profound impact of excessive data flow on our minds, emotions, and perceptions, challenging our fundamental understanding of consciousness.
The ancient Greek concept of 'logos', meaning reasoned discourse, weakened under the flood of constant information. Our capacity for deep, reflective thought diminishes, leading to a more superficial engagement with the world. This situation forces us to confront the limits of our cognitive and emotional capacities, questioning whether we are losing touch with what it truly means to be human. The world is an interconnected web, where information reaches us in an unceasing stream that revolves continuously. As we navigate this perpetual stream, we must develop strategies to filter, and critically assess the information we encounter, ensuring our engagement is meaningful, and avoiding passive consumption.
The essence of 'everything happening so much' creates an overwhelming and disorienting cacophony. The line between essential information and noise becomes increasingly blurred, despite being more connected than ever, we often feel isolated. How do we preserve a sense of self and purpose in an age of distraction? Overloaded is a journey towards understanding the impact of our digitally driven age, urging us to seek balance in how we consume and interact with information.
Featuring new works by Greek and international artists, Overloaded sparks a dialogue on numbness and the various ways we respond to news headlines and statistics. It represents the collective effort to make sense of a world where the sheer volume of information threatens to drown out our ability to create a genuine connection with the world.
Artists
Apset
Atek
Billy G
Simple G
Gospel
Lune82
Katia Lyubavskaya
Zisis Ntalakouras
George Ouzounis
Martha Panagiotopoulou
Christina Papaioannou
Dionisios Pappas
Pupet
Anastasia Riga
Cacao Rocks
Katia She(legovich)
Stylianos Triantafyllou
John Valyrakis
Elpida Zacharaki
Olga Zafeiropoulou
Curated by Nia Hefe Filiogianni & Mika Papamichail (Street Art)
Exhibition programme
Opening reception
Thursday 18 July 2024, 7 - 11 pm
Opening hours
Thursday 18 July - Sunday 18 August 2024
Monday - Sunday, 5 - 10 pm
Address
TAF | The Art Foundation
Normanou 5, Monastiraki 105 55 Athens, Greece
Get in touch info@creamathens.com
Follow us on IG @creamathens
Press
- Athens Voice Overloaded στο TAF, The Art Foundation | Athens Voice
- El Culture "Overloaded" στο TAF, The Art Foundation (elculture.gr)
- Lifo Overloaded: Ένα εικαστικό ταξίδι, με έργα από Έλληνες και διεθνείς καλλιτέχνες, στην καρδιά της Αθήνας | LiFO
- Culture Now Overloaded: Ομαδική έκθεση στο TAF – The Art Foundation | CultureNow.gr
- Art Views Overloaded, ομαδική έκθεση από το Cream Athens στο TAF - Artviews
- Athinorama Overloaded - πληροφορίες για την έκθεση - Athinorama.gr
- ΕΡΤ Πρωτο προγραμμα (01:00) Πολιτισμένα με την Ιωάννα Ταραμπίκου | 21.07.2024 – ΕΡΤecho (ertecho.gr)
- Platform.gr Overloaded: Μία ομαδική έκθεση στην καρδιά της πόλης - Platform.gr
- Art and Life Overloaded στο T.A.F (artandlife.gr)
- Debop Cream Athens: Overloaded | Τέχνη στην εποχή της υπερπληροφόρησης | deBóp (debop.gr)
- ipolizei Έκθεση OVERLOADED στο T.A.F. / Τhe Art Foundation - Η Πόλη Ζει (ipolizei.gr)
Supported by
About the artists
Apset
Apset, born in Thessaloniki in 1984, is an artist whose name is an anagram of his
given name, "Ste-Set", a fact that reflects his character's conceptual elements. He
began his journey into graffiti in 1998, amidst the street culture of Thessaloniki and
then studied graphic design at the Public Institute of Vocational Training in Triandria, furthering his experience through the Leonardo-da-Vinci II internship in Poland. From 2006 to 2011, he collaborated with Pacific Décor on thematic parks across major Greek municipalities. An honors graduate from the School of Visual Applied Arts at AUTh’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Apset is also a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece (EETE).
Atek
Born in 1988 and raised in Athens, Atek is a self-taught artist who found his passion
for art early on. Immersed in the history of street and hip-hop culture, Atek began
exploring the transformative power of art in 2002, by doing graffiti and murals,
which led him study painting and sculpture at Athens School of Fine Arts. As a freelance visual artist from 2009, he seeks new artistic adventures and business opportunities, with his work deeply influenced by the Romantic period, geometry, and vibrant colors. Committed to the belief that graffiti and street art should challenge the status quo and inspire change, Atek’s creations aim to combat the world's decay and envision a brighter future.
Billy G
Vasilis Griparis, or Billy G, is a street artist that has left his own mark on the
Athenian visual milieu. As a skateboarder from Athens, Billy G, seamlessly blends his
passions for skating and art. Having spent much of his life traveling across Europe for
skate competitions and contributing articles to skate magazines and a weekly
column in Athens Voice, Billy Gee's connection to street culture runs deep. With a
background in Graphic Arts and Realistic Design, his work is characterized by a
striking use of color and design, often featuring realistic images. “With my works I want to show that I don't stop creating and imagining and that in the end everyone interprets them in their own way”, Billy G shares.
Simple G
Simple G, a vigorous muralist from Athens, has contributed significantly to the
transformation of urban aesthetics, especially in the post-2008, financial crisis era.
Beginning his artistic journey at the age of just 11, he took up iconography without
formal training, eventually specializing in it at the Athens School of Fine Arts. There,
he began combining traditional iconography with graffiti, creating a unique and
somewhat controversial style, that functions as a form of psychotherapy, offering healing through creativity. His murals and contributions to projects breathe new life into areas such as Metaxourgeio, Omonia and Exarchia, revitalizing these neighborhoods with vibrant, imaginative street art. Despite being in his late 20s, Simple G rejects conventional labels, preferring to interpret his work himself and maintain his artistic independence.
Gospel
Greek artist GOSPEL captivates with his graffiti identity, rooted in a word that evokes
a myriad of interpretations. His artwork, characterized by pure forms and solid
colors, is deeply influenced by Greek culture, evident in his distinctive color palette
and symbolism. Born in Karditsa in 1990, GOSPEL is a versatile artist excelling in
graffiti, murals, and illustration. Now residing in Athens, his unforgettable works are
seen beyond the city's bounds, yet they undeniably carry Athens' influence. GOSPEL masterfully blends references from Greek and graffiti cultures, using bold layers of
white, black, red, and blue to create striking visual narratives that ignite the
imagination.
Lune82
Lune82, a Greek visual artist based in Athens, seamlessly blends graffiti, mural art,
graphic design, and tattoo art into a unique creative tapestry. With a foundation in
Graphic Design and a passion for graffiti ignited in 1998, Lune82's work is
characterized by custom lettering, typography, style writing, and linear designs,
heavily influenced by optical and kinetic arts. His clear, bold forms have graced walls,
canvases, and skin alike, captivating audiences at numerous mural and graffiti
festivals and exhibitions worldwide. Lune82's primary focus is on tattooing, where he
brings his art and knowledge to life on skin, continuing to engage and communicate
with viewers through his diverse artistic expressions.
@lune82er
Katia Lyubavskaya
Katia Lubavskaya is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blurs the boundaries between art and design. Her explorations span from fairy tales to post-internet culture, using a mix of irony and purity to present her view of the world amidst the age of fakes and illusions. She employs unconventional materials paired with traditional techniques like knitting and embroidery, creating installations that challenge perceptions. A graduate of the Moscow Architectural Institute, Katia has showcased her work at prestigious venues such as the Venice Biennale of Architecture and the MOMMA in Moscow, continually pushing her repertoire of artistic expression.
@magic.yes
Zisis Ntalakouras
THE DIGITAL I⅃⅃USIONIST, aka Zisis Ntalakouras, elevates minimalism to its fullest
potential. Born in 1995 and raised in Larissa, he began exploring photography at 19,
seamlessly blending ancient culture with modern society to forge a timeless visual
language. His passion for travel and unwavering determination, have led him around
the world, capturing the essence of each destination through his lens. Zisis excels in a
range of styles, from cutting-edge minimalist expression to eloquent portraiture, picturesque landscapes, food imagery, and raw street photography. His mission is to
evoke emotion, compassion, and a profound inquiry into our existence, making each
of his images a poignant exploration of human life.
@thedigitalillusionist
George Ouzounis
Super Gonorrhea, aka George Ouzounis, is a digital artist whose work delves into
contemporary themes such as post-human condition, new materialist feminism,
transhumanism, queer theory, and ecology. His art features digital spatial
installations, chimeric forms, and technologically mediated materialities, primarily
crafted using 3D scanning techniques to digitally process natural analog models.
His body of work examines romance in a narco-capitalistic environment, presenting love as a cybernetic practice and celebrating moments of physical surrender that transcends heteronormative models.
@Super__g_
Martha Panagiotopoulou
Martha Panagiotopoulou, born in 1991 in Athens, is an interdisciplinary artist whose primary medium is glass. She holds an MFA with distinction from the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and a Diploma of Architecture from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Her work, which has been exhibited in prestigious galleries like GoMA and in public spaces such as Thessaloniki’s New Waterfront, reflects her diverse skill set and innovative approach. Awarded the NEON scholarship prize, Martha's art was also shortlisted and showcased at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). Her creative journey includes numerous exhibitions, residencies, and publications. In July 2023, she published her first poetry collection, "Hydrias", with Smili Publications. Currently residing and working in Athens, Martha continues to push the boundaries of her interdisciplinary practice.
@_martha_pan_
Christina Papaioannou
Christina Papaioannou, a rising visual artist based in Athens, Greece, utilizes her background honed at the Athens School of Fine Arts to create paintings that bridge the physical and digital worlds. Her works resonate with the contemporary experience, delving into the overwhelming flow of information and the ever-shifting nature of how we consume images in the digital age. Papaioannou's artistic lens explores the intersection of art and technology, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of our digital culture. Her work has been exhibited in Greece, Cyprus, London, Mallorca, and Vienna and is included in private collections.
@christina_papaioannou_artwork
Dionisios Pappas
Dionisios Pappas is an Athenian visual artist who delves into themes of societal and
political identity. His artistic journey began in Chalkida, where a childhood immersed in art at D. Mytaras' Art Workshop (1985-1991) laid the foundation for his future success. Notably, after earning degrees in History and Archaeology, he returned to his artistic roots, graduating with honors from the Athens School of Fine Arts in painting while simultaneously exploring multimedia and digital art. Through his work, primarily charcoal and pencil sketches on paper, alongside crafted installations, Pappas critiques the juxtaposition between Greece's glorious past and its perceived contemporary decline. Faces and masks become recurring motifs, reflecting his exploration of societal masks we wear and the ever-evolving concept of identity.
Pupet
Stelios Pupet, a figurative painter based in Athens, Greece, studied at the prestigious
Athens School of Fine Arts. His work is known for its unique blend of figuration and geometric abstraction. Pupet employs a grid system as the foundation for his creations, both on canvas and murals. These initial uniform blocks transform through his process, morphing into dynamic, angular shapes that add depth and structure to his primarily figurative compositions. Often, his subjects, frequently women's forms, are depicted crouching amidst plants or curled in contemplative postures, all subtly distorted by the underlying grid. This interplay between order and dynamism reflects Pupet's embrace of a spontaneous artistic approach, where the creation unfolds organically during the process itself.
@stelios_pupet
Anastasia Riga
A visual artist based in Athens, Greece, Anastasia Riga creates vibrant works that pulsate with color and explore the captivating interplay between memory and image. Their artistic path began at the University of West Attica, where they delved into the worlds of photography and audio-visual arts. However, a deep passion for painting emerged, leading her to the prestigious Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA) in 2009. Graduating in 2014 with an integrated master's degree in painting from the 8th Workshop, Anastasia Riga honed her skills under the guidance of esteemed faculty. Since graduating from ASFA, Riga has actively participated in the Athens art scene, whilst a defining moment in their career arrived in November 2023 with the curation of their first solo exhibition, "Οριζ_ΩΝ_ντες (Horizons)" by Nasia Kalamaki.
@anastasiariga_art
Cacao Rocks
Cacao Rocks, or IASON as he's also known, is an artistic chameleon who seamlessly blends street art swagger with museum-worthy installations. This Athens-based creative, son of the sculptor Georges Megoulas and active in the street art since 1999, juggles painting, sculpting, and even video art, leaving his colorful mark on everything from international galleries to global brands like Nike, DUO, and Remy Cointreau. He's not just creating art, he's sparking conversations, having even represented Greece at prestigious biennales received the prestigious "Artworks" award from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in 2018. Cacao Rocks is a force to be reckoned with, blurring the lines between artistic disciplines and captivating audiences worldwide.
Katia She(legovich)
Born in 1992 in Minsk, Belarus, Katia is an artist whose work reflects a rich tapestry
of cultural influences. Deeply connected to Belarus, Sardinia, and Poland, she draws
inspiration from a diverse range of experiences. Her artistic journey began in earnest
at the University of Arts in Poznan, Poland, where she earned both bachelor's and
Master's degrees. There, she explored various artistic disciplines, ultimately focusing
on furniture and object design. Further studies at the Polytechnic of Milan in Italy
honed her skills even more. Katia's impressive professional experience includes working
with renowned names like TYLKO, Toyota, Studio Vincent Tojrdman, and Objects of
Common Interest. In 2024, Katia embarked on a new chapter, establishing her own creative space, GLEAMStudio.
@gleamst_udio
Stylianos Triantafyllou
This Athenian artist, hailing from the collaborative design crew Triple, is a master of
weaving together unexpected influences. With a background in graffiti's bold energy,
traditional tattoo's intricate details, and the structured world of architecture,
Stylianos Triantafyllou is on a mission to craft a visual language unlike any other.
Fresh out of their 2021 master's in architecture, he is using acrylics, inks, and even
zines to explore the trippy depths of metaphysics. So, get ready for artwork that will
challenge your perception and leave you wanting more.
@kompleeet_1
John Valyrakis
John, an artistic voyager born in Athens in 1985, has built a fascinating career that bridges worlds. With a foundation in architecture, he delved deeper into the realm of visual arts, earning a scholarship for postgraduate studies at Loughborough School of Arts. There, he honed his skills in 2D and 3D visualization, a talent he further explored at the Athens School of Fine Arts. John's artistic journey hasn't been confined by borders – he's not only a freelance artist with a studio in the UK, but his work has also graced galleries in London, Athens, and even Shanghai! This international exposure speaks volumes about the captivating quality of his art.
@john_valyrakis
Elpida Zacharaki
Elpida Zacharaki, or else Vatomouro, is a calligraphic enchantress from Athens born
in 1991, is here to redefine our perception of letters. Drawn to the world of typography from a young age, she's not just a calligraphy artist, she's a weaver of stories with every stroke. Elpida ditches the digital realm, preferring the delightful dance of dip pens, brushes, and markers. Why? Because for her, these analog tools capture the raw energy and unique spirit of calligraphy, transforming surfaces into testaments to a fleeting moment. Her mission is to ignite a love for letters beyond their everyday use, crafting visual illuminations that leave a lasting impression.
@el.vatomouro
Olga Zafeiropoulou
"Experimentation is a form of therapy". Meet Olga Irene Tami Zafeiropoulou, the Athenian artist with a heart of clay and a soul that seeks constant renewal. Born in 1994, Olga started her artistic journey at the Glasgow School of Art, but ultimately found her calling in sculpting with ceramics. Her studio, "Tapada Art Lab" transforms into a time capsule, as she molds whimsical sculptures that delve into the depths of emotions and past traumas. Clay and colors become the tools for seeking redemption and wave a path to healing, through feeling and creation. For Olga, experimentation itself is a form of therapy, a testament to the transformative power of art. So, get ready to be enchanted by Olga's whimsical creations, each one a vessel for emotions and a celebration of artistic exploration.
@tapada.art.lab