19th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
3-12 March 2017
CARTOON EXHIBITION OPENING:
“MICHAEL KOUNTOURIS, MADE IN EUROPE:
DESCRIBING THE REFUGEE CRISIS WITHOUT WORDS”
3-12 March 2017
CARTOON EXHIBITION OPENING:
“MICHAEL KOUNTOURIS, MADE IN EUROPE:
DESCRIBING THE REFUGEE CRISIS WITHOUT WORDS”
Cartoons generated by the refugee crisis, xenophobic Europe and societies of closed borders and barbed wire are showcased in the exhibition “Michael Kountouris, Made in Europe. Describing the Refugee Crisis without Words”, organized by the Greek street magazine “Schedia”. The opening of the exhibition took place on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 at MOB Cafe, where it is held, as part of the 19th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. The exhibition is organized by the Greek street magazine “Schedia” and MOB Cafe, with the support of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
Apostolos Lykesas, journalist, Christos Alefantis, editor-in-chief of the street magazine “Schedia”, and Michael Kountouris himself, spoke at the opening.
The first one to talk was Apostolos Lykesas, who noted that Michael Kountouris is “a man who has put into practice the saying that freedom of speech and expression is about letting ink flow, instead of blood”. And he added: “His work graces the pages of newspapers, but mainly assembles the journalistic chaos of words. He himself works as a chimer for Europe. For what Europe thinks it is, for what we think Europe is and for what Europe can become, unfortunately, breeding once again the Nazi nightmare, degenerative racism and icy indifference to human beings behind nihilistic nationalism”. Mr Lykesas also stressed: “The absurdity of the so-called seriousness takes the dimensions of a real tragedy in Michael’s cartoons, a tragedy that is already taking place or is being concealed. What we are looking at is barbed wire made in Europe on the ruins of World War II, on which the barbed wire is placed everywhere from Gevgelija to Berlin. We even have barbed wire as ribbon bow for the Magna Carta, as chador and burqa, as a label on the carpet of the European Union or as a torn kite’s rope. Barbed wire as brain, heart and words of the black-dressed fascist; barbed wire thrown as life-vests to those drowning in the sea. Kountouris speaks fearlessly, without writing anything. Our world, without the glitter, is piles of life-jackets, sheaves of poor people who didn’t just take to the streets out of boredom or an interest for adventure, but they are themselves an adventure of survival”.
Afterwards, Christos Alefantis, who represented “Schedia”, noted that the cover of the magazine’s new issue features a cartoon by Michael Kountouris, inspired by the arrival of spring, but also by the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Mr Alefantis also spoke about the discussions on the artist’s work on the occasion of his previous work in the magazine "Galera", stressing that his cartoons are made to receive awards abroad. “I would like to refer to what my experience of Michael has been. We met 12 years ago at the “Galera” magazine and our collaboration now continues in “Schedia”, since he is one of the most regular contributors of the magazine and each issue features one of his cartoons”, he pointed out, adding that "during all these years, Michael Kountouris’ offer has been incessant and without payment". Mr Alefantis noted: “Every month, when we receive Michael’s new cartoon for our next issue, the same scene takes place: a collective exclamation of wonder and then a pause. Silence breaks with the question “this is fantastic, but what does he want to say?” And this is followed by a discussion, while we try to interpret it. This is repeated every time we flip through the new issue with ‘Schedia’s sellers, as well. Each time they ask what his work means, a discussion begins from which many conclusions arise; this is an aspect of the artist's contribution to the creative struggle of ‘Schedia”.
Finally, Michael Kountouris himself took the floor, mentioning the publications that were the first to host his work: “Efimerida Syntakton” and “Schedia” both emerged from the crisis. He spoke about the exhibition’s journey, as it was previously presented in Dusseldorf, Germany, where it will return in late March, while it also took place in Heraklion, Crete, before coming to Thessaloniki. The artist spoke about the unique experience of giving tours of the exhibition to children who arrived in Greece as unaccompanied refugees. The experience of being in contact with the children at the exhibition held in Heraklion was just as intense; an experience that makes you feel "proud and useful", since, as he said, "a prize in a contest isn’t as important as a little child’s comment on the cartoon with the barbed wire. Each cartoon is set up and is read as a text. If the children are given the code, they understand exactly what it’s meant to say”. Michael Kountouris remembered the beginning of his collaboration with “Schedia”, as well as the experience of informing the sellers about the contents of the issue, with an elder seller saying to him: “I don’t really get your cartoons, but I thank you for being with us”. Mr. Kountouris concluded by saying that it feels nice to take the journey of this exhibition with “Schedia” because, as he stressed, “For every wall that hosts my works, we get the chance to leave with more friends”.
Information:
Venue: MOB Cafe (Ionos Dragoumi & 2 Papadopoulou Streets, Thessaloniki)
Duration: 4-19 March 2017
Cafe Hours: 10:00-02:00 (Sundays: 11:00-02:00)
Curated by Schedia street magazine
