Page 46 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2024

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
word of mouth

O ver the past decade, NEON has established itself as a general public, enhancing

NEON's core philosophy
pioneering force in the realm of contemporary art within
Greece. The organization launch, in 2013, was based on
centers on engaging the
the belief of its founder, Dimitris Daskalopoulos, that con-
temporary art has the capacity to stimulate, inspire, and
affect people individually but also to pique the collective
consciousness. Reflecting this philosophy over the past
the understanding
10 years, NEON has been developing a model of citizen
engagement and artists’ participation and has been col-
and appreciation of
laborating with public and other cultural institutions to
promote contemporary art in public space as a means of
upgrading the urban environment and everyday life of cit- contemporary art, and
izens. As Dimitris Daskalopoulos stated: “Exposure to contemporary artistic creation
leads to fertile reflection, disrupts stereotypes, and broadens perceptions. Looking back creating welcoming urban
these past 10 years, the imprint NEON left on the soul and mindset of the hundreds
of thousands of people who chose to follow its course is a conscious or sub-conscious
personal asset and hopefully a cumulative collective asset of our society.” spaces that are open to all.
During its inaugural decade, NEON’s impressive track record includes exhibitions at
28 diverse locations, ranging from museums to historic and archaeological sites and
urban spaces. It has showcased the works of 253 artists, both Greek and international,
and commissioned 93 new pieces from 70 artists. Collaborating with 22 art curators,
it has brought a rich tapestry of artistic experiences to their audiences. Education is
also at the heart of NEON’s activities, with NEON Grants supporting 212 projects,
benefiting approximately 1,800 artists. Moreover, NEON’s public-private partner-
ships have led to the revitalization of iconic archaeological sites and historic build-
ings, such as the former Public Tobacco Factory – a €1.4 million investment – which
was transformed into a high-spec arts center, as well as the Athens Conservatoire.
In the words of NEON Director Elina Kountouri: “The NEON approach is best
summed up by the phrase ‘our space is the city’. Through NEON, we hope to of-
fer communal cultural experiences that are freely open to all, without limit.” 

Clockwise from top left:
TERRAPOLIS, 2015|Installation view
Ugo Rondinone, SUNRISE. east.
October, 2015|Courtesy Sadie Coles
HQ, London|NEON at the French
School at Athens|©Nikos Markou.
Abramović Method, AS ONE,
2016|Commissioned and produced
by NEON + Marina Abramović
Institute|Benaki Museum,
Athens| ©Panos Kokkinias.
TERRAPOLIS, 2015|Installation
view Yayoi Kusama, Pumpkin (M),
2014|Courtesy the artist
and Victoria Miro, London|NEON
at the French School at
Athens|©Natalia Tsoukala.
Ioanna Pantazopoulou, A Summer
Evening, 2023|The Artist on the
Composer|NEON + Greek
National Opera|©Andreas
Simopoulos.

Above: Tino Sehgal, This Variation|This Progress, 2014|NEON
at the Roman Agora of Athens|Courtesy NEON|©Natalia Tsoukala.
Left: Mario Merz, Numbers are Prehistoric, 2015|Installation view
Igloo con albero, 1969-2002|Private collection|Courtesy Fundación
Proa, Buenos Aires, Untitled, s.d.|Courtesy Galleria Persano,
Torino|NEON at the Museum of Cycladic Art|©Natalia Tsoukala.

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