As a first instance of its collaboraton with the Benaki Museum, the Institute of Greek Music Heritage attempts an intervention in the permanent exhibition of the Ghika Gallery in order to bring into the spotlight the 11 composers who are among the permanent “residents” of the collection. Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to music samples of each composer’s work and to emerge themselves in additional rich archival and audiovisual material. They will also be able to trace, with the help of technology, the network that connected these musicians with each other, as well as with other creators of this remarkable generation, indirectly unearthing the multiple versions of Greek identity. Vamvakaris, Theodorakis, Constantinidis (Giannidis), Mitropoulos, Xenakis, Xenos, Papaioannou, Sicilianos, Skalkottas, Tsitsanis, Hadjidakis. 11 renowned names invite us to rediscover them, through the intervention entitled “I think it’s time to listen”, borrowed from a short story by Menis Koumandareas, from the book “The show is Greek”.
The intervension also includes an immersive museum installation, dedicated to Stavros Xarchakos, the renowned Greek composer, whose work is in dialogue with many of the “residents” of the Gkika Gallery.
Selected artefacts from his personal archive come together with his rich on-screen narration, offering visitors a glimpse of the maestro’s temperament.
The exhibition was supported by the Qualco Foundation and IEMK’s scientific director, Prof. Renata Dalianoudi.
It was hosted at 3 Kriezotou street, from 24.4.24 to 05.01.25.
PROJECT DATA
DESIGN – PRODUCTION: 2024
TEAM:
Alexandros Charkiolakis, Director of the Friends of Music Society
Stephania Merakos, Director of the Great Music Library of Greece Lilian Voudouri
Valia Vraka, Archive Supervisor at the Great Music Library of Greece Lilian Voudouri
Eugenia Efthimiadou, architect museologist
Faye Apostolides, interior designer
Charles Couteau, scenography intern
Constantinos Arvanitakis, film maker
Schema, visual identity and design
Interactive Light Design, application design and development
abnormal studio, video clips
SURFACE: 850 m²
COST: undisclosed