Thessaloniki art scene
Thessaloniki lives images of neo-avant-garde and cultural experiment between tradition and modernity
West Wall Collective & That Long Black Cloud
In the district around the Byzantine walls, local artists have taken over vacant shops and transformed them into studios, galleries, and workshops.
Nikos Iosif uses a former auto parts store for his textile collages—an homage to childhood and the neighborhood.
Tattoo artist Mimoza describes the transformation as “magical”, as the cultural potential of Thess (“Thessaloniki”) unfolds. From abandoned shops emerges a creative center, a community directly linked to generations once forced to give up. Yet the language is that of the youth: “We carry our heritage of stories with us.”
Lola Nikolaou Gallery – “Empty Shaping”
In a completely renovated historic building on Tsimiski Street, the Lola Nikolaou Gallery presents the exhibition “Empty Shaping”, thematizing space and emptiness in an artistic way.
“I walked … lost the right address … but … received a warm welcome!”
The curatorial design lends a poetic and technological depth to an abandoned shop space, while also profoundly capturing the decay of the city—like a forgotten castle in such a dreamlike setting.
Everyone senses that this way of life wants to tell very different stories.
Street Mode Festival & Underground Spots
The annual Street Mode Festival uses temporary stages in public and often abandoned spaces. Warehouse halls at the port and the fairgrounds offer ideal retreats, paying tribute to the 1970s street-art hype from bankrupt NYC.
What makes the creative transformation of unused spaces visible are the lived social structures. Here, Thessaloniki proves itself to be a truly innovative student city—with every cultural impulse one could wish for.
DIY Events in Cafés and Art Bazaars
They love colorful beads, and you’ll find them in abundance at Xantraki.
What began in 1968 as a souvenir shop for tourists is today a cozy craft store. The owner greets customers with a warm smile and happily helps them find just the right materials. If you’re creative, this is your spot!
(Ydro also organizes bazaars with independent artists.)
Alatza Imaret & MOMus Experimental Centre
Historical monuments like Alatza Imaret are used as pop-up cultural venues to celebrate workshops, exhibitions, and performances.
Similarly, the MOMus Experimental Centre for the Arts functions as a cultural hub.
It seems as if this museum is the secret incubator for international creatives. It doesn’t just offer classical museum-style derivations of fundamental Greek artistic concepts; it also gives young representatives of the art scene a few platforms to mingle among the officially accepted art.
The impact and meaning of temporary use through creative impulses are less “instigated” in Thessaloniki (as they are in Berlin, Düsseldorf, London, or Paris) and more of a natural cultural expression that itself contributes to revitalization.
Abandoned properties receive a new identity (in addition to their decay), and urban quarters are culturally activated—because they are, simply, the living spaces where everyone resides.
One thing stands out in Thess, however (so far): there is no apparent gentrification outside of the “New Promenade” and a few hotels in the city. The sociocultural development that benefits affluent individuals and groups is happening more on islands and dream beaches. In Thessaloniki, the rule seems to be: those who are somebody live outside the city.
KB
Quellen
West Wall Collective – Transformation leerer Läden in Kunsträume
https://thatlongblackcloud.com/project/24-kdf-2018/
https://www.culturenow.gr/mpetty-nikolesi-sto-ergo-akoyme-aytoys-poy-panta-vriskontai-sti-lathos-pleyra-tis-istorias/
Nikos Iosif
https://www.athensvoice.gr/politismos/eikastika/845211/nikos-iosif-sunedeuxi-gia-tin-ekthesi-proika-stin-galeri-ro/
Lola Nikolaou Gallery
https://lolanikolaougallery.blogspot.com/2022/09/art-athina-2022.html
„Empty Shaping“ – Ausstellung im leerstehenden Ladenlokal
https://artgate-ink.com/exhibition-review-empty-shaping-at-lola-nikolaou-art-gallery/
Street Mode Festival
https://www.thessalonikiartsandculture.gr/ekdiloseis/ti-tha-doyme-sto-11o-street-mode-festival/
Ydro-Café & DIY-Bazaars in leerstehenden Bereichen
https://allevents.in/thessaloniki/diy-or-die-bazaar-and-gig/200028362069820
https://www.ydrostore.gr/storeclosed
Alatza Imaret & MOMus Experimental Centre – kulturelle Revitalisierung
https://thessaloniki.travel/exploring-the-city/art-culture/museums/thessaloniki-center-of-contemporary-art/
https://www.momus.gr/en/news/meet-the-artists
Thessaloniki Reimagined – strategische Kulturprojekte im Wandel
https://roamingsparrow.com/travel/momus-museum-of-contemporary-art-thessaloniki-greece/