Indoeuropean Greeting
A "welcoming" speech by Ja Mann Ahoj & Athanasios
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*WARNING: appropriation of racist language
Initiated by Johanna Maj Schmidt, this was an opening lecture-performance for Documena at the Athens Biennale in 2017, "Resurrection with Documena". Johanna Maj Schmidt & Athanasios Anagnostopoulos attempt an undermining discursive mix-match of various strands of neo-conservative far-right racist ideology that since the outbreak of the European crisis have been a regressive influence to western political discourse and artists alike. Documenta 14 visiting Athens seemed unable to avoid orientalising Athens, romanticising the "South" and the Greek crisis. The lecture mocks mystical rightist ideologies as well as it provokes questions regarding the ideological naivité of the left-wing/anarchist "political spiritualism". From our own perspective, Johanna & Athanasios addressed our own racism engraved in our cultural discourse and personal experiences. The lecture sought to undermine the influence of conservative neo-folk or third-positionist tech-folk ideas, apparent at the time in the Greek parliamentary political alliance of the left (i.e. Syriza) with the far-right (i.e. "Independent Greeks"). It also exposes and criticises reactionary ideas such as the "Eurasian Union" - as European Union's opponent and problematises Putinist Orthodox Russia appearing as a legitimate political ally for Greece. |
Presented at:
Athens Biennale 2017 "Waiting for the Barbarians". Bageion Main Hall, Omonoia Sq, Athens. Johanna Maj Schmidt & Athanasios Anagnostopoulos ©2017 |
