Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Democracy, Environment

and Art

Erasmus+KA2 – No. 2018-1-PT01-KA229-047365

3^rd activity

Mafra Portugal, 4 – 8/11/2019

Climbing words like a rope ladder

Poetry expresses the anxiety and concerns of people of all times.

The worry that, if they lose Environment, they will lose themselves. �

• The Man whose shadow was stolen, by George Seferis

They will take away the shade of the trees from you, they will take it away

They will take away the shade of the sea from you, they will take it away

They will take away the shade of the heart from you, they will take it away

They will take away your shadow…

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Climbing words like a rope ladder

Their fear in the face of technical progress

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• Ippios Kolonos, by George Seferis

The nightingales and the olive trees

were swept away by the block of flats

the people dispersed in front of the machines

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Climbing words like a rope ladder

Their need for freedom and justice

• From “Ρωμιοσύνη” (Greekness) by J. Ritsos

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These trees do not get comfortable with less sky

These stones do not get comfortable under foreign footsteps

These faces do not get comfortable but in the Sun

These hearts do not get comfortable but in the Right

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Climbing words like a rope ladder

But also their belief that the world will survive in solidarity

• From Axion Esti (Worthy, it is): The Genesis by Odysseus Elytis

THIS WORLD

this small, this great world!

“You see,” he said “they are the Others

and it cannot be They without You

nor can it be You without Them”

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Climbing words like a rope ladder

And Art should do its duty

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• Afterword (Epilogue) by M. Anagnostakis

No verse nowadays mobilizes the masses

No verse nowadays overthrows regimes.

Be that as it may.

Cripple, show your hands. Judge so that you can be judged.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Climbing words like a rope ladder

So that we may live free on a free planet

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• The song of the People by K. Varnalis

Land, Sea and Man, three eternal elements

they don’t have a master or a master’s history

And it was our turn to enjoy the birds, the sea, the mountains, the sun, the stillness….

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Plato, “Music is the beauty of the universe”

• Music is a universal, human language that unites people.
• In September 2019 in our city Veria, musicians from many countries led by soprano Sonia Theodoridou participated in a commemoration event for the 460 Jews who were displaced from the city and killed in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Plato, “Music is the beauty of the universe”

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Classical music has brought people of

different religion, language and culture

closer to one another

Plato, “Music is the beauty of the universe”

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

The students from the schools of our town were the main protagonists �of the commemoration event.

Maya Angelou, “Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything is dancing”.

• Dancing is a direct expression of human emotions.
• It is also a form of group Art.
• The Greek and Balkan traditional dances also have an element of Democracy: while dancing everybody fits into a circle, the young, the elders and the old people.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Maya Angelou, “Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything is dancing”.

Everyone is holding hands or embracing: dancing brings people together.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Maya Angelou, “Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything is dancing”.

Traditional dancing in Greek festivals usually takes place in the countryside / in the fields, that’s why these festivals are held in summer.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

William Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage”.

We have been putting on plays in our school for the last 10 years. They all serve democracy and humanism, such as …"Do you like Brahms?" focusing on trafficking.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

William Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage”.

about……

the right to diversity �

and to equal chances

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The play

“6 + 1 Ideas”

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

William Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage”.

• “Fiddler on the Roof” about the need and struggle of ordinary people to build a world of truth and love.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

J. Behrakis, "Photography: You Can't Say “I DIDN'T KNOW”

Our school's photography team captures the natural environment.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

J. Behrakis, "Photography: You Can't Say “I DIDN'T KNOW”

J. Behrakis, Pulitzer Prize 2016

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

J. Behrakis, "Photography: You Can't Say “I DIDN'T KNOW”

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

J. Behrakis , The agony of the refugee is the agony of all people on earth.

J. Behrakis, "Photography: You Can't Say “I DIDN'T KNOW”

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Ecological disaster in the Atlantic ocean(from the BBC documentary Blue Planet II)

Interview

• With the painter and teacher of Arts, Fotini Hamidieli

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Visit to

Papatzikou Gallery

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

�Papatzikou Gallery�

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Visit to the painting exhibition of the artist Ar. Potamianu's entitled

"Art Stories": the paintings rely on classic works of art presented through a new perspective - a striking example of sustainability.

• Art is always up-to-date, as the artist expresses his/her concerns about his/her time and its problems.
• for example, arte povera is against consumerism. Many artworks are made from useless/ worthless / recyclable materials.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Art conveys social messages, such as those about the woman's position in the world: "a woman has to be naked in order to “ enter a museum (F. Hamidieli)

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Art helps some people to integrate into society, e.g. prisoners, as well as refugees, the disabled or mentally ill (art is prescribed in Canada as if it were a kind of medicine).
• Social-awareness initiatives / actions are also being taken by artists , e.g. painting in hospitals or in institutions for children.
• Many low-performing students are integrated into the school community and are educated through art.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• There are group artworks, which foster collaboration. (Graffiti at our school)

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Many young artists have the chance to exhibit their work in galleries, museums, foyers, cafés. (use of stone, wood and paint)

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Art makes people sensitive to the environment, e.g. the photo exhibition

“the blooming peach trees" (Papatzikou gallery).

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• The urban environment is getting more beautiful by means of the works of art in it, eg Varotsos in Veria

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• The artist is inspired by nature, creates his/her colours from it and displays its perfection in his/her work. (F. Hamidieli)

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

«land art» and «environmental art»: artistic movements that create ecological consciousness

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Christo and �Jeanne – Claude

(land art)

environmental art : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHA_T7yiyTM

Graffiti - Interview with Elton Sulo, a Founding Member of GAP (Graffiti Academy People)

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Graffiti is a free expression, especially of the young. There are no aesthetic limits.
• The walls speak through graffiti (street art, mural art): they talk about violence, racism, refugees, women, the homeless.

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Graffiti artists make public space their own - it's an intervention in the colorless urban landscape.

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• Graffiti is prosecuted when there is no permission from the owner of the site or the municipality.

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

• The state itself often orders artists to make graffiti in order to get across a social message (Korica, Albania 2018).

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

The Arts talk to each other�From Photography to Graffiti

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

The 1985 photo of a girl from Afghanistan becomes graffiti in 2018:

as long as there are refugees, art will “shout” for their right

��The Arts talk to each other�From Graffiti to Painting �

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Banksy's case: his works enter the galleries and are sold for huge amounts of money. And the question is: does graffiti impart democratic values or are democratic values commercialized?

Meeting with L. Dimitriadou, Head of School Activities

• The architect L. Dimitriadou introduced us to contemporary art in Europe through Biennale in Venice.

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Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Art Biennale, Venice 2019

• Addressing to this year's topic, Quinn's installation, named Building Bridges, depicts six universal humanity values: friendship, faith, help, love, hope and wisdom – each one symbolised by human hands coming together to overcome differences and build a better world. The installation extends 20 meters in width and 15 meters in height resembling the famous bridges that empower the cities.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Conclusions:

Rights

• Art is a Lingua Franca (a Universal language).
• There is freedom in the artistic expression and creation.
• Art conveys humanitarian messages.
• Art brings different generations together.
• More and more young people are involved in Art.
• Climate change is a concern for artists.
• Archaeological - historical museums embrace contemporary Art.
• Greek schools promote democracy through artistic actions.
• New technologies allow Art messages to spread.
• Art promotes Sustainability.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Non Rights

• Poverty deprives a lot of people of getting in touch with Art.
• Many women do not have the right to artistic expression.
• In Greek schools art lessons are not taught.
• The artists are not paid well.
• Commercialization / populism confine Art to a low level.
• There is fear that technology will replace Art.
• Art alone cannot change the world.

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability

Sustainability for Democracy � Democracy for Sustainability