Showroomschmitt in Karlsruhe hosts the group exhibition "Athena", featuring Greek and international artists from FokiaNou Art Space, one of Athens' first artist-run spaces, which recently celebrated ten years of continuous operation. This exhibition marks the second part of a cultural exchange between two independent art spaces: FokiaNou Art Space from Greece and Showroomschmitt from Germany. Athena is a continuation of the previous exhibition presented by Showroomschmitt in Athens, showcasing works by German artists, and marks an ongoing creative dialogue that transcends borders, fostering the exchange of experiences and practices between independent artists and spaces.

FokiaNou Art Space began its activities in 2014 in a small apartment in the center of Athens, amidst the Greek economic crisis, with the aim of bringing together Greek and international artists, giving them a platform to express themselves during a particularly challenging period. Today, the space has established itself as an important hub for contemporary artistic creation in Athens, promoting a dialogue that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Athens, with its many faces, serves as an endless source of inspiration for both Greek and international artists living in the city. The city operates as a meeting ground between the past and the future, where artists draw inspiration from the passage of time while also seeking ways to express the contemporary reality, the constant changes, and the speed that defines it. From its urban contradictions to its raw beauty, Athens exudes energy, eroticism, and creativity, inviting artists to engage with the city and capture it in new and exciting ways. Athena is an exhibition that reflects this continuous dialogue between the old and the new, tradition and innovation, calm and chaos – a city that is constantly evolving and building its future, with its gaze directed both towards the past and towards tomorrow.

The participating artists in the Athena exhibition – John Bicknell, Maria Bourbou, Mary Cox, Susan Daboll, Sarah Etttlinger, Dimitra Maltabe, Despoina Pantazi, Caroline Pradal, Geeta Roopnarine, Panagiotis Voulgaris, and Kiveli Zachariou – present works that come from different starting points, approaches, and techniques. However, the common thread uniting their works is the city of Athens and the small apartment in the building that houses FokiaNou, which has become their shared home. This space is open to creation, sharing, dialogue, experimentation, exchange, and communication – all elements that define the artistic process and the interaction between the artists themselves and their audience.

Participating Artists: John Bicknell, Maria Bourbou, Mary Cox, Susan Daboll, Sarah Etttlinger, Dimitra Maltabe, Despoina Pantazi, Caroline Pradal, Geeta Roopnarine, Panagiotis Voulgaris, and Kiveli Zachariou

Curated by: Panagiotis Voulgaris and Mary Cox