Ten comic book artists and four scriptwriters from the contemporary Greek comic scene stand against the present social condition and choose a word, which according to them reflects contemporary life, in order to produce a work based on it. All the words arising have a negative connotation: Dissension, Fanaticism, Low Spirit, Lie, Egoism, Hypocrisy, Decay, Obsession, Humiliation and Rage. Their negativity will be reversed soon; the first letter of each word in Greek eventually forms an acrostic which constitutes the title of the exhibition, while being a direct challenge to the public: REFUTE IT.
Drawing inspiration from John Dewey’s popular quote claiming that “a problem well defined is half solved”, the participating artists compel the visitor to a full consciousness of reality. Each of the words and by extension their semantic content is presented in a raw, divested or even pretentiously harsh way both in their meaning and in their consequences and extensions. Through the multilevel art of comics that combines the undeniable influence of the image with a minimal yet substantial text, the artists are trying to provoke emotional reactions and ultimately transform them into thoughts, concerns, ideals and above all actions which will go beyond the limited grounds of metamatic:taf’s exhibition space.
At the same time the artists introduce themselves, being exposed along with their works, while opening an interactive dialogue with the public. They willingly accompany the visitors from the first reaction or aversion to the acceptance and awareness of the problem. Each and every creator puts their personal signature using their own techniques and experiences, utilising an arsenal of pencils, inks, watercolours, ecoline and acrylics. Students and teachers, professionals and amateurs from different backgrounds and with different means of expression, unite under the art of comics, striving, venturing, educing or provoking: REFUTE IT.
On Saturday 15 November at 19:00, on the occasion of the exhibition closing, metamatic:taf will host a live music show by the band Happy Dog Project.
For more information please visit metamatic:taf.
