22-25 November (Romantso)
The Program
Thursday 22nd November: Opening night with special performance by Luca Federici (21:00)
Friday 23rd November : Curator’s tour (14:00-16:00)
Saturday 24th November The Mystical Garden (13:00-20:00)
14:00-16:00 Modern Greek Queer History: Politics and Art by Theodosis Gkeltis (in Greek)
16:00-18:00 The Case for the Canonization of Zackie Oh presented by Tomas Diafas and Kangella Tromokratisch (in Greek)
18:00-20:00 Welcome to Symposium: an avant-premiere and a special screening (with Greek subtitles)
Sunday 25th November : Drag Queens read Homoerotic Poetry 3 presented by Anna Goula(Doors open 19:00, tickets 8€)
The exhibition (opening night November 22nd 21:00)
Sixteen artists from around the world will show their work on the exhibition space of ΡΟΜΑΝΤΣΟ:
Emmanuel Barrouyer, Boston Elements/Jeremy Lucido, Chraja, Johann D’Nale, PavlosDrivas, Alexandros Emmanoulidis, Anna Goula-Vardinogiannis, Anton Johnson, George Kanis, Luca Federici, Menelas, Stiofan O’Ceallaigh, Alexino Piravlos, Nikos , ΠΛΑΝΕΤΑΝΤΖΟΥΡΛΑ
At the exhibition we will be exhibiting the Holy Shoud of St. Nicolas of Kareola: come and worship this modern relic of queerstianity. During the opening night special guest performer Luca Federici performed his interactional piece “Marks”
On Saturday the 24th of November people came for a religious experience that brought them to their knees. The event included talks, video-performances and lots of queer prayers.
Drag Queens Read Homoerotic Poetry 3
Sunday 25th November19:00 (entry 8€)
Everyone’s favourite show, the love child of Menelas and Joy Kolaitis, returns for a third year where poetry and song meet drag. Our priestess for this spiritual voyage is the adored Anna Goula and she will guide us through the spirits of the night. Performers: Melita Scabeau, Vanessa Cardui, Smaragda and Imiterasu with Rico M.D. Special appearance: Holly Grace.
All events are strictly for adults due to the sexual nature of the content. The exhibition is a designated space for safe and free queer expression without judgment. During the exhibition there will be a collection box in aid of the legal expenses of the court case of Zak Kostopoulos/Zackie Oh and also sales of some of the artworks will go to the same funds. #JusticeforZakZackieOh
THE CURATOR’S STATEMENT
The big questions have always been the same:
- When did it all start? // How is going to finish?
- Where do we come from? // Where are we going?
- Is there any meaning to all of this?
We have two main sources of answers: Science and Religion. In the Western world the dominant religion is that of Christianity and it very firmly asserts that the world was created by God. It provides no real motivation for this action but certainly implies there is one unknown to us. Science responds there is no motivation for anything, things happen randomly and due to the laws of physics they take a specific form. Religion provides a very clear narrative of how we were created and what God wants from us. Although the specific moral guidelines are often confusing they are clearly stated in the holy texts. Where as science provides a model of the origins of the species which is constantly refined. The model of evolution by Darwin basically says that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.
Religion relies on belief of revelatory texts which are constantly being interpreted by religious authorities. Whereas science relies on the scientific methodology of gathering evidence to prove certain hypotheses or models. But the most intriguing thing about sources of answers is not necessarily their validity but how they are used to exercise power in society. People in power will use whatever source will keep their influence on the masses. And whilst historically we have been moving from religion to science, current affairs are showing a dangerous set back. The ‘enough with science’ attitude of the latest government in the USA is exhibited in the denial of climate change or by the fact that the words evidence-based and science-based are among 7 words to be avoided on the 2019 budget request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country’s biggest health organisation. Two other words in the to be avoided list are diversity and transgender, which, brings us to the point that power as derived by different sources of knowledge is often exercised against the LGBT people.
We therefore ask our artists to meditate on the contrast between religion and science, especially from a queer and/or feminist perspective.