O is argh.’s* first project. It is an imagined public sculptural installation destined for personal use. The sculpture -even though presented as a proposal for metropolises around the globe or as having been built in some cases- has not been materialized. It is intended to remain as a potential. The sculpture is ovoid shaped, with two openings; one close to the ground serving as an entry/exit point and the other at the top of the construction intended for gazing toward the sky. The egg, an archetypal form of genderlessness and perfection, has cosmogonic references and is often used as a symbol of union, integration and potential, creating connotations of merging, unification and inclusiveness. Touching upon questions related to the urban space as a place of settlement or as a passage, the aim is to shape a visual sculptural hypothesis where a public sculptural object could potentially provide short hospitality to the passer-by, granting them a few moments of semi-seclusion within the urban space to realize a pause within the constant flow.
*argh. is a group of visual artists (Alexandra Anagnostopoulou, Elektra Stampoulou, Mary Thivaiou) interested in researching matters related to space, procedure and interaction, paying particular attention to the dynamics that develop between the urban public space and the individual and questions that stem from these matters.
3D representations of sculptural objects in Rhino 3D and digital collages of sculptural objects in public spaces.
[Special thanks to Spiros Emilios Tzimas for designing the sculptural object in 3D]
O, 2017-2018, photographs of exhibition, Beton7Arts
Room 1: multimedia installation, artist book publication with research material 25.5 x 20 cm., 40 p. (limited edition of 10 copies), ovoid shaped linoleum flooring 5 x 3 m., prints of 3D representation of sculptural object on photographic paper 30.5 x 42.5 cm., monitor with video of 3D scale model, 15 hand processed polaroids in wooden box 11 x 11 x 11 cm., collection of 16 ovoid objects, edible chocolate scale model of sculpture
Room 2: video and sound installation, mirror pieces and transparent pvc sheets placed on the floor total 1.70 x 1.30 x 0.50 m., video and sound duration 40’
Participatory performance: piñata with photographs and ovoid candy, wooden stick, duration 10’
The O is out there., 2018-2019, public space intervention, posters 28 x 32cm. and stickers 5 x 4 cm., Athens, Tallinn, Tartu, Mooste
The O is out there. is a public space intervention. Shortly after the exhibition of the project we designed posters, each depicting an item selected from the collection of ovoid objects, accompanied by the slogan “The O is out there” without any further details except for the group’s logo. We also designed a plain ovoid sticker with the same phrase. The posters, which were put up in various places in Athens (streets, store fronts etc.), use advertising language and aesthetics with the intention to build a mystery as to what it is they advertise or propose. They are closer to a hint, often used by the advertising industry shortly before launching a new product, creating questions and suspense. In this case however, the event (i.e. the exhibition) has already taken place. The “product” advertised thus remains in an in-between, contradictory situation, much like the O sculpture. The public space intervention was repeated in a few cities in Estonia during the group’s artist residency at MoKS project space.