ΧΡΩΠΕΙ

Super Sport #02 Art Action took place on Saturday 11 November 2023 from 12 pm onwards.

Super Sport #02 is set in the abandoned ΧΡΩΠΕΙ factory close to Piraeus and is an art action made by a group of artists with no specific curatorial line or guidelines, other than the will to explore the potential of experimentation in this kind of environment, so common in the urban skin of Athens. For some time now we have been organizing walks and meetings and started working on in situ installations, graffiti, performances, sound and various other site-specific projects to present them in a one-day-long event. 

Video by Super Sport

Video by Dimitris Diakoumopoulos

Participating artists:

Alexander Konstatis
Alexander Reich & Sascha Stanslowski
Arte Clare
Cherno Bello
Christos Noulas
Eirini Tampasouli
Eva Koliopantou / Eva Giannakopoulou / Ash.arda  
Giorgos
Hristos Hantzis
Ingmar Riswick
Eirini Roumeliotaki
Isidora Vincentelli
Javier Pérez Aranda
Katerina Botsari
Karl Heinz Jeron
Kioy & Me
Kyriaki Cristoforidi
Léo Leclère
Lia Giannakou
Lili Pataki
Louis Karl Börje
Lydia Margaroni
Maaike Stutterheim
Margot
Nikos Branidis
Paul Paulun
Placa
Primitive Rave
Riccardo Vitali
Romantiko Panepistimio
Skulk
Soffia Loukeri
Soft Industries
Syros Paparoulias
Stefanos Chandelis
Xaris Baskozos
λυρικό φώσφορο

About ΧΡΩΠΕΙ:

It opened its doors in 1883. It began as a chemical industry after the laboratory discovery of aniline, a carbon derivative, which was used to produce synthetic dyes, replacing natural colors mainly in the textile industry.

The factory was also dedicated to the production and distribution of the analgesic “Algon”, which was the Greek version of aspirin, and later other medicines and chemical products, including pet food and ammunition… until 1989, due to financial problems, it closed for good.

Today, after almost 40 years of abandonment, there is an ambitious plan of the Ministry of Development and Investment to convert ΧΡΩΠΕΙ into a model Science and Technology Park focused on research and innovation in the field of health sciences.

It is a huge complex consisting of several buildings surrounded by a very extensive green area currently in a rather wild state. It is also conveniently located away from residential areas.

Exploring an abandoned building is like stepping into a forgotten world frozen in time. As you cautiously tread through decaying corridors, your senses become heightened. The air is thick with the musty scent of age, and every creak and whisper of the building tells a story of its own.

The walls, once vibrant, now wear the scars of neglect, their peeling paint revealing layers of history. Sunlight filters through shattered windows, casting eerie shadows on the remnants of forgotten lives – discarded furniture, old magazines, and broken toys. Each room harbors secrets, and the silence is deafening, save for the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.

In this desolate space, your imagination runs wild, conjuring tales of the people who once worked there. You wonder about their dreams, their struggles, and what led to the abandonment of this once-thriving structure. The graffities on the walls add a layer of nowness, a dialogue between past and present.

As you explore deeper, you encounter the thrill of uncertainty. Collapsed walls and debris make each step a calculated risk. Yet, the lure of the unknown propels you forward. You become an urban archaeologist, unearthing clues to a forgotten era.

But amid the exhilaration, there’s a sense of melancholy. The building’s decay mirrors the passage of time. And as you exit, leaving the abandoned building behind, you carry with you not only a story but also a profound sense of connection to the past, a testament to the impermanence of all things