The topology of the impossible within
from utopias to the 6th International
Forum of Performance Art
Live performances presented by Gillian Dyson, Jack Catling, Giannis Stamenitis, Filippos Vassiliou, and Agapi Zarda
With distinguished participants from Greece and abroad, the 6th International Forum of Performance Art took place on September 27, 28, and 29 in Drama. Academics, performers, and students participated in the forum’s activities, analyzing this year’s theme, which dealt with “Utopias: The topology of the impossible.” The forum was held in the Agia Barbara Park, Lab40 of the Drama Chamber of Commerce, and the cultural venue “Eleftheria”.
The entire program structure is based on the smooth introduction of the audience to performance art, from lectures to the observation of performances. For this reason, the daily schedule started with the students’ educational program, which was open to the public, with theorists and academics conducting workshops, followed by the forum and live performances.
During the 6th IFPA, live performances were presented by Filippos Vassiliou and Agapi Zarda, artist and academic at the University of Leeds Gillian Dyson, artist and writer in London Jack Catling, and performer Giannis Stamenitis.
In parallel with the live performances, the audience had the opportunity to watch 45 works from digital performances and video art creators. These works were selected through an open call and were showcased on the official website www.ifpa.gr throughout the event.
Throughout the three-day forum, distinguished academics and artists presented lectures, educational workshops, and performances, and they are listed as follows, in the order of their participation in the program: Maro Galani – choreographer, researcher of Performance/Performance Writing, Maro Theodosiou – performer, Giannis Mitrou – Artistic Director of IFPA, Giorgos Arabatzis – Professor of Philosophy Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Fai Tzanetoulakou – Art Historian, Maria Kenanidou – Art Historian, Charis Papacharalambous – Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Philosophy, University of Cyprus, Dimitris Trikas – Journalist, Sotiris Bachtzetzis, President of the Department of Culture and Creative Media and Industries, University of Thessaly, Eleni Gkini – PhD in Philosophy, Vasilis Psarras – Assistant Professor, Department of Digital Arts, Giannis Pappas – Visual artist, Filippos Tsitsopoulos – performer, Eliza Soroga – performer, Maria Charela – performer, Kostis Stafylakis – Assistant Professor, School of Fine Arts, Kris Salata – Professor and Chair of the Theatre Department at Florida State University, and Antonis Diamantis – actor, director, and artistic director of the Theatre Anthropology Center.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Theatre Anthropology Center, Mario Biagini, Kris Salata, and Antonis Diamantis participated in the forum’s activities.
Furthermore, as part of the 6th IFPA, a special tribute titled “becoming poetics” was presented with works from students of the Department of Performing and Digital Arts of the University of the Peloponnese at the Viewing Room, with the following participating students: Ioannis Venetis, Theodora Martinika, Ioanna Martinika, Ioanna Dona-Laiou, Panagiotis Petrako, Christina-Ioanna Sakellari, Xenia Serafimidou, Anna Syrinidou, Maria Tsitini, Anna Freggidu, curated by Assistant Professor Vasilis Psarras.
The International Performance Art Meeting is organized by Emphasis – Contemporary Arts & Culture Center and Almakalma – Research Laboratory of Performing Arts, with financial support and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the support of the Drama International Short Film Festival.
