Intro
“In the heyday of Olympia the glory of the Olympic Games consisted in aharmonious blending of arts and sports. So it should be once again in the future.”
Pierre Baron de Coubertin
LE FIGARO, Juli 1904
Following the successful ARTIADE exhibition held in Atlanta in 1996 on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary Olympic Games, the “ARTIADE - Olympics of Visual Art” was held in Athens from 12 August to 01 September 2004 in parallel to the Olympic Games.172 artists from 78 countries took part in the Olympic Games had their works exhibited. The ARTIADE documents a harmonious meeting of nations, using art as its means of communication.
There is an ever-increasing need to take a ’step back’ in order to find a cultural counterbalance and a sense of transparency, in the face of the increasing commercialisation of the Olympic Games. This exhibition offers the ideal medium for documenting the ‘feel’ of any country - current events, emotions, and traditions. In short, it is a forum for world culture.
In other words, every Olympic nation will sends not only its athletes, but also its artists, who will reflect the cultural identity of their countries of origin:
“…It is the artists’ works that tell us about life in the countries from which they come…”
Gerhard Mack, (’art’ Magazine, Germany)
In this way the ARTIADE emphasised the positive, unifying nature of the sport Olympics. Through this exhibition the original meaning of the Olympic ideal was revealed in the present time. Athletes and artists represented two sides of a common culture. The exhibiting artists have been able to express their opinions and emotions without any restraint.
The exhibition was formerly being organised by the “Kulturstiftung ARTIADE e.V.” (Cultural Foundation ARTIADE), registered as a cultural organisation in the Federal Republic of Germany. It was supported by a number of prominent figures, most particularly by the German Federal President, Johannes Rau, who died last year.
Entry was open to all artists working in the fields of:
- Painting
- Installation, media and video art
- Sculpture
