Text by Lorina Speder
Plaka, the historic neighbourhood in the heart of Athens, is renowned for its labyrinthine streets where one can easily get lost. With its great historical background that leads back to ancient times, through Roman domination and the rule of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman part of Greek history, the area continues to capture a unique charm. Neoclassical house façades, a lively mix of numerous shops, restaurants, touristic souvenir places, and the slopes that lead directly to the Acropolis contribute to Plaka’s unique atmosphere.
Amongst the many cobblestone-lined streets in Plaka, Tripodon Street stands out for its long history: it has been recorded to have the same name for 25 centuries, which has led to it being called by many as the oldest street in Europe. Just 200 metres away off its southern end, one discovers ARCH, an independent and nonprofit arts organisation housed in a 19th-century concrete building with a sleek marble entrance. Founded by Atalanti Martinou in 2019, ARCH aims to provide an open space for visitors to engage with contemporary art. Martinou, who studied art history, architecture, and fashion in the USA and worked for major art institutions like New York’s MoMA and the auction house Sotheby’s, returned to Athens with the vision of creating “an open space” for visitors.
ARCH’s architectural design, executed by architecture firm VOIS, reflects Martinou’s preference for the modernist architecture of the 1930s and the Bauhaus aesthetic. That is why one can find Bauhaus-like black and white features in the details, from the numerous 90-degree angles to the angular black door knobs and engraved straight lines in the wooden doors.
The most striking feature of the building is the two-storey-high exhibition hall that one sees when coming into the building through the main entrance. Here, a towering window bathes the room in light, creating a sense of spaciousness despite the modest size of the exhibition area. In the building, visitors can explore not only the art, but also an upstairs open library filled with art catalogues and books. A backyard garden area and a shop with selected items of ceramics, design, homeware, fashion, and artworks invite visitors to spend even more time in the building.
In addition to hosting craft workshops like ceramic painting and flower arranging, ARCH remains focused on providing a space for artists to develop projects without time constraints. “We strive to have two exhibitions a year”, Martinou told und. also mentioning the residencies and exhibition opportunities “for artists during any time of their career”. Currently, ARCH features an exhibition by Tula Plumi, a Berlin-based Greek artist who focused on the material of bamboo for her show Ground Bass.
The bamboo works range from design-like objects such as lamps to hanging sculptures on the wall. Most of the objects juxtapose the rectangular and Bauhaus-like aesthetic of ARCH with curved forms. Plumi used long and flexible reeds and bent them into curves that naturally create tiny spaces between them. This echoes the airiness of the rooms and forms a miniature reflection of the exhibition space with its many windows and abundant natural light. In other works, the artist experiments with textile or paper, making use of the tiny spaces in between the reeds and enhancing them.
The most impactful artwork however is a simple, heart-shaped bamboo sculpture on the wall with just a touch of reddish acrylic on it. The piece not only demonstrates the flexibility of the material but also engages with its open spaces. The two holes in the bent heart curves almost resemble eyes, and the layers of the reeds radiate a playful spirit. This approach aligns with the architecture of the building and, metaphorically, with Martinou’s vision for ARCH — welcoming visitors, fostering an open space, and encouraging people to engage with its many offerings.
The exhibition Ground Bass by Toula Ploumi continues at ARCH through 31 January 2024. For more information visit the official website here.
