Diochante, instalation, Eleusinian mysteries, Διοχάντη, Ελευσίνα 2010

Enter. Do not be afraid. Let me be your guide to this initiation in the Eleusinian mysteries, following the artistic path. An emotionnal rebirth is at stake here.

Eleusinian mysteries were iniation ceremonies of greatest importance in ancient Greece, held annually for the cult of Demeter and Persephone in the city of Eleusis (έλευσις=arrival). A mostly secret initiation, established maybe before 1500 B.C. and aiming to unite the worshipper with the divine, to make him familiar with the powers and the dark sides hidden in him. To conciliate him with death. There was no knowledge to be transmitted. It was more about an emotionnal experience, a transmission or realisation of the ineffable. To endure a transformative rebirth.

This is where we are invited by the art of Diochante (=Diofante? =the one who reveals god Zeus).

Diochante is a greek painter--sculptor. She speaks to the media about her art with an eloquent silence. A welcoming person in her direct contact with people. Sometimes she offers raki as a remedy to the cold of the night of the deserted factory, or maybe she just remembered kykeon (κυκεών)? She is interested in reconstructing envirronments through the relations between space and time.

Her instalation, presented in the video, is an "in situ" work created in 8 chambers of an old olive oil factory in Eleusis which was transformed into an exposition area. She used different elements, materials, sounds, lights. Her materials were debris, stones, wood, bricks, cement, concrete blocks, soil and water. All found "in situ". We may think that Diochante feels close to the arte povera area but she does not seem to neglect Brancusi who tried to reach the most elementary forms, freeing them from superficial appearences in order to reveal the intrinsic beauty of the material. The essence, in other words.

Diochante allowed to take photos and published them. Composer Stefanos Barbalias trusted his music-sound material to me. They seem to realize that once their work is done it belongs to us, the recipients. Could it be that this is real art?

Audiovisual consultants of the instalation: Antonis Gadgouyannis, Makis Faros. Technical consultant: art @gavrilos

So, I took my photos on October the 31rst, 2010, pushing my dear camera to its limits. I worked on them. Stefanos Barbalias e-mailed me his soundtracks. I edited his music. I wrote the texts (I know it is silly to have texts in an initiation process/emotionnal procedure but my thoughts were the only way to master my fear).Then prepared the video, slowly, during November 2010. I had a great time, but I fear that the video is a really pale reminiscence of what I experienced at the exposition.

I know that lots of my friends are going to freak out when they view the video. The contact with extreme emotions and primary experiences is the reason. But it is ok. You will be stronger. Do not be afraid. You will see the light. Exit.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Diochante
• instalation
• Eleusinian
• mysteries
• an
• initiation
• by
• art
• Stefanos
• Barbalias
• Antonis
• Gatzouyannis
• Makis
• Faros
• gavrilos
• Διοχάντη
• επί
• τόπου
• εγκαταστάσεις
• Στέφανος
• Μπαρμπαλιάς
• Ελευσίνα
• 2010
• ελευσινια
• μυστηρια
• arte
• povera
• Brancusi
• IRCOM

[PhilPhilUSA]

i am priviledged to be a recipient of this fine, informative, and dramatic work. thank you.

[pslogge]

@PhilPhilUSA Very kind of you. I am glad you liked the video and the work by this amazing artist.

[denlibdut]

Thanks for bringing me into the netherworld - very spooky indeed, but I think I would rather go back to the world I came from! You have done a brilliant job of making this fearsome world come to life, or should I say 'to death'(?)

[pslogge]

@denlibdut : I am so glad that I scared you my friend, this is the essence of the Eleusinian mysteries : become stronger after a strong emotionnal experience. They were definetely aiming to a better life after mastering the fear of the underworld. The word light here should be taken in the sense of purification and clarity.

[lopcaian]

Emotive involving of photographic visions.

A particular compliment for the music design.

[pslogge]

@lopcaian : I think that the composer is really gifted. Thanks for the comment.

[gosuckafuck]

makes me want to sacrifice back in time... awe. awe.

[tskaladiotis]

ΩΡΑΙΑ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ..!!...ΣΥΓΧΑΡΗΤΗΡΙΑ..!!

[pslogge]

@Leilazul : I am so glad you liked it, people use to come out of the exposition in various states of choc. The video cannot reproduce by no means the real atmosphere of the instalation.

[Leilazul]

Wonderful and interesting work in photography!!!!.... an experience of what may be spiritual iniciation since the ruins of an old factory.....excelent!