“Knowledge is power, power is knowledge”
Melting labour history into art
An installation by Despoina Vaxevanidi
My residency is coming to an end and I wish to present my work so far. It was a fruitful residency indeed. It resalted in important ideas; it is the beginning of a new research that I plan to continue for a quite time after leaving Leipzig.
The Open Studio will be on August 23rd , from 5 p.m. onwards.
Location: SPINNEREI, Halle 14, Entrance C, 1st Floor, Studio 7
HALLE 14 – Centre for Contemporary Art
It will be my pleasure to see in person, those of you in Leipzig, in order to discuss questions and aspects arising from my project.
My work elaborates questions related to labour and social rights; it comments on the tools that contributed to the spreading of social messages and claims for better living conditions, inclusively for all members of society.
The project conceived through the common elements of labour movement history in Thessaloniki and Leipzig, focussing on two prominent socialists, namely Abraham Benaroya (1887-1979) in Thessaloniki and Karl Liebknecht (1871-1919) in Leipzig.
Both cities during the 19th and early 20th centuries shared a common status as belonging to multinational empires with strong craft/industrial tradition. They were powerful regional centers but not capitals of state; a condition that permitted the flourishing of groups inspired by progressive political theories.
The research also draws its inspiration from the recent large farmers’ demonstrations across Europe and the questions being raised today about workers’ rights. Moreover, it aims to contribute to the preservation of urban memories by the dialogue and re-negotiation with the past.
I am grateful for be given the opportunity of this residency, which is part of the Exchange Program Thessaloniki – Leipzig 2024 at HALLE 14 – Center for Contemporary Art in cooperation with the Goethe-Institute Thessaloniki and founded by the City of Leipzig.