http://www.atopos.gr/
ATOPOS, a name inspired by the ancient Greek word “ άτοπος ” denoting the strange, the unwonted, the eccentric and the unclassifiable, is a meeting point for different visual disciplines.
It operates by researching projects of international interest, collaborating with designers and artists, making new ideas concrete in the form of exhibitions, publications, performances and events. In parallel, and through the various collaborations, the collective has assembled a unique collection of rare and original creations by contemporary designers, including historical garments and art objects. This collection, fruit of the organisation’s research, is growing continuously. ATOPOS CVC collaborates with cultural organisations, cultural and public benefit foundations, museums, galleries and independent artists.
The collective made its “debut” at the exhibition Ptychoseis = Folds + Pleats. Drapery from Ancient Greek Dress to 21st Century Fashion (Benaki Museum, Athens, 2004), part of the Cultural Olympiad, Athens Olympic Games 2004. This was followed in 2007 by the exhibition Rrrrip ! Paper Fashion (Benaki Museum, Athens, 2007), in which ATOPOS CVC presented its collection of paper garments. Following the success of Rrrip !! Paper Fashion in Athens, the collective was invited to take the exhibition to the Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM, Luxemburg, 2008), the ModeMuseum (MoMu, Antwerp, 2009), the Museum Bellerive/Design Museum (Zurich, 2010) and Galerie Stihl Waiblingen (Germany, 2013). Since 2010, Barbican International Enterprises has undertaken the promotion and touring of the exhibition Rrrip !! Paper Fashion.
Arrrgh ! Monsters in Fashion ATOPOS’ next exhibition was presented at the Benaki Museum, Athens (2011). At the same time, the collective presented the NOT A TOY – Fashioning Radical Characters publication (Pictoplasma Publishing, Berlin), the first in-depth worldwide research on Radical Character Design in fashion and costume. In 2011, ATOPOS CVC introduced its new theme of research on the human body and sexual practices in the digital era with the exhibition Peepee by Lakis & Aris Ionas / The Callas, showcased in ATOPOS’ venue and a contribution to the ReMap 3 international platform for contemporary art. The exhibition Full of love by Boris Hoppek (Spring 2012) is part of ATOPOS’ new theme of research.
ATOPOS CVC inaugurated its venue (Athens, 2010) with the exhibition ZZZzzzZZZZ IN ATOPOS, with artworks by ShoboShobo. Part of this exhibition was presented at La Gaîté Lyrique, (Paris, December 2011), at Kunstencentrum Belgie, (Hasselt, 2012) as part of the Manifesta 9 Biennial Parallel Event Program and at Museum aan de Stroom, (MAS, Antwerp, November 2012-February 2013).
ATOPOS' artistic director, Vassilis Zidianakis, has been invited to be part of the jury of the 21ST Festival Internationale de mode et de photographie, Hyères (2006), and at the Fashion Department Antwerp Show 2006, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp. ATOPOS CVC was also invited by the Inamori Foundation to act as a nominator for the Kyoto Prize Award in Arts and Philosophy (2006 and 2010), and by the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco for the International Prize for Contemporary Art (2009 and 2010). ATOPOS CVC has collaborated, amongst others, with the 21_21 Design Sight of the Issey Miyake Foundation, (Tokyo, 2008), the Hydra School Projects (2008 and 2009) and the Musée d’Orsay, (Paris, 2009).
In 2010, ATOPOS CVC collaborated with Charlie Le Mindu and presented Atopic Bodies [ONE] : Mr & Mrs Myth in ART-ATHIN A, and in 2011, the Atopic Bodies [THREE ] : The Leiotrichous Tribe, at Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris. Following the invitation from Robert Wilson, Artistic Director of The Watermill Centre, to participate in the 18TH Watermill Summer Benefit, New York, ATOPOS CVC presented the performance Atopic Bodies [EIG HT] : The Voluptuous Panic Attackers in collaboration with Charlie Le Mindu (2011).
In 2012, ATOPOS CVC participated in the 19TH Watermill Summer Benefit and, in collaboration with Craig Green, at the International Summer Program of The Watermill Center.