Page 93 - ANDRONIS MAGAZINE 2024

ESCAPE_ Santorini

FROM EARTH TO ART:

TIMELESS CLAY NARRATIVES

Ancient artistry meets modern innovation in the 1st

Biennale of Contemporary Keramics 2024 in Santorini,

a five-month event celebrating Greek pottery.

THE INAUGURAL BIENNALE of Contemporary and frescoes from the prehistoric settlement
Keramics (BCK) 2024 is set to take place of Akrotiri, a major urban centre during the
from 7 June to 26 October 2024 at the Middle and Late Bronze Age, now offering
Museum of Prehistoric Thera on the island invaluable insights into ancient Aegean society. Top left and clockwise: Earthen Fibers by Helena
of Santorini. This event by the non-profit The biennale features 20 original works Boddenberg, Kopfschmerzen (Headache) by Simon Manoha,
organisation Big Blue Dot marks a significant by 20 artists, each piece narrating aspects Encapsulated Memories by Mirka Drapaniotou, Pithos &
milestone in the promotion of contemporary of Santorini’s essence. A series of events, Tripod by Yoav Reches.
Greek pottery, intertwining modern artistic workshops, and educational programmes will be
expression with the country’s centuries-old available at the Santorini Art Factory (SAF)
mastery of ceramics. alongside the exhibition. All together, these
The ancient Greek “κέραμος” refers to the initiatives aim to provide artists, visitors, and
potter’s clay, an apt term to incorporate the local community with new experiences,
into the biennale’s name, emphasising the while nurturing the island’s tourism and
heritage of ceramics in Greece and its cultural economic development.
significance. The BCK 2024 aims to support BCK aspires to become one of Greece’s most
and elevate this industry by fostering new significant cultural events and act as a catalyst
aesthetic trends, promoting research, and for the global promotion of the country’s
enhancing communication between creators ceramics. Domestic artistic production is
and the public. Ultimately, it seeks to fill to connect with the international industry,
a critical gap in contemporary ceramic art showcasing the work of established and
within the country, aligning itself with the emerging artists. Santorini, a destination
standards of the international scene. that’s famous worldwide, is the first stepping
BCK is designed as a wandering and decentralised stone. As the host of the first BCK, it promises
event to be hosted on a different Greek island to elevate the profile of Greek ceramics
every two years and draws inspiration from and set a new precedent for the region’s
each location’s mythological and historical cultural events. The island’s accessibility
heritage. For its inaugural event, Santorini’s and infrastructure make it an ideal starting
rich archaeological and cultural backdrop point for this ambitious biennale, promising
provides a perfect setting. The Museum of a magical experience for anyone taking part
Prehistoric Thera is the main venue, renowned in this developing creative narrative, rooted
for its extensive collection of clay vessels in the medium of ceramics. •

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