The Independent project – MAXXI Museum, Rome

Within the context of Maxxi museum’s The Independent project, Urban Gorillas and co. are presenting Urban Spectacle, a series of public interventions exploring basic human activities in urban spaces, starting out from the relationship that is established between observer, player and spatial context and attempting to spark a new dialogue between them.

The project is designed to encourage people to overcome stereotypical ways of looking at “the other” and to interact with them in public spaces.

A research conducted under the Urban Spectacle series to date has revealed for example that the public spaces in Cyprus are currently underused and socially segregated, a factor that has invited new and innovative methods of planning of public space. What has emerged is a wide-ranging action with urban interventions in various contexts within the city.

THE INDEPENDENT is a research project focusing on the identification and promotion of independent spaces and thinking; it is the manifesto MAXXI has chosen to use to extend the confines of the museum institution, investigate the contemporary and encourage the culture “of difference”. The project explores the contents of the most innovative creative forces, monitors the growth of Italian and international independent spaces and spreads critical and independent thinking. It offers a space for sharing contemporary experiences and investigates the research of non-institutional channels.

The projects presented at the exhibition included the following:

The Urban Dinner

Artistic Direction:Veronika Antoniou, Mathieu Devavry

Gastronomy creation:Two little chefs in a green kitchen

Artistic Contribution:Teresa Tourvas, Athina Frenaritou, Evita Michaelides, Yiorgos Hadjichristou

Sound design: Mathieu Devavry

Set Design: Veronika Antoniou

Camera: Natalie Konyalian

Photography: Natalie Konyalian  & Elysia Athanatos

Supported by the Cyprus Ministry of Education & Culture

The Baffle Zone

Artist: Street Artist Twenty Three

Video: Natalie Konyalian

Photography: Eleni Philippou

Supported by the Cyprus Ministry of Education & Culture

Off the Studio

Artists: Arthropod Collective – Elias Zaaour, Roula Abdo, Mathieu Devavry, Jerome Dupre la Tour, Christina Christophi, Vasilis Vasiliou

Digital Artist: Matthieu Tercieux

Video & Camera: Nafsika Hadjichristou & Alex

Supported by the Cyprus Ministry of Education & Culture  and Art Way

-Sweet Give & Take Relationships

Artist: Athena Frenaritou

Video: Markos Kassinos

Supported by the Cyprus Ministry of Education & Culture

Urban Green Bus

Collaborator: NGO AKTI under their project Tiganokinisi

Artistic Contribution: Evgenia Vasiloudi

Support by Cyprus Fulbright Commission

-FouskoPolis

In collaboration with: Plastique Fantastique

Under the Green Urban Lab project in partnership with Dentros LTD and the University of Nicosia Architecture Research Center

Funded by EEA Grants / Norway Grants

Video: Stavri Papadopoulou

Inflating the Public Workshops

In collaboration with: Plastique Fantastique

Under the Green Urban Lab project in partnership with Dentros LTD and the University of Nicosia Architecture Research Center

Funded by EEA Grants / Norway Grants

Video: Joanna Jossif

Anthropometrie

In collaboration with Collectif Anamorphes

Supported by Art Way | Plastique Fantastique

Painter: Mathieu Devavry
Dancer: Charlotte Kirschner
Musical Composer: Jeremy Chartier
Video: Antonis Pouliasis

Under the Let’s Go Kaimakli Festival 2015