Jannis Varelas catalogue – new flags for a new country

This catalogue was printed on the occasion of Jannis Varelas’ solo exhibition “New Flags For a New Country”, at The Breeder in  October 2015.

Printed in 500 copies

Text: Gianni Jetzer

Designed by Michalis Paparounis-futura Publications

Photo Credits: Nikos Koustenis & Sebastiano Pellion di Persano

THE BREEDER

colored , hard cover

The exhibition included a series of large scale works whose crux is to map a maximalist system that records and shapes the notion of absent-mindedness. This concept is directly opposed to the ideological prescripts of neo-liberalism today. It is in essence a proposal juxtaposed to the notions of competitiveness, concentration and efficiency and productivity. The context shaped in the exhibition conveys the intention of the artist to produce an aesthetic treaty outside of the rational commands of a production process. It is organized as an ensemble of notes, for the final result to be understood as the general imprint of a creative behavior. The second part of the exhibition was a performance that coexisted with the paintings. The performance was realized by five characters: a bear, a rabbit, an anchor, a banana and a caterpillar who perpetually work on a production line whose result is never revealed. The structure of the performance was a direct reference to the revolutionary theater of the 50s and 60s in San Francisco and especially to the work of Ronnie Davis and San Francisco Mime Troupe, but also to the narrative structures of the theater of the absurd.

More information about the exhibition here.