POST PQ 2023 PRESS RELEASE – Department of Performing and Digital Arts

POST PRESS RELEASE: PARTICIPATION OF THE DEPT. OF PERFORMING AND DIGITAL ARTS, UOP, AT THE PRAGUE QUADRENNIAL 2023

The Department of Performing and Digital Arts, School of Arts of the University of Peloponnese took another important step during its 4 years of operation by actively participating as part of the Greek delegation at the International Exhibition: Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space 2023, in Prague (8-18 June 2023) the most important international exhibition in the fields of scenography, performing arts, theatrical architecture and hybrid artistic approaches.Ensuring an international and continual presence since 1967, this year’s 15^th PQ2023’s theme was RARE and took place at the Holešovice Market (the main site) but also at the National Gallery and Academy of Performing Arts. PQ is gradually becoming an international platform of artistic practice and interdisciplinary research between new media art, performance art, scenographic and expanded performative practices as well as technologically mediated artistic practices which proceed from the concepts of ‘space’ and ‘body’.

Along with faculty academic staff: Athena Stourna, Bill Psarras, Chara Thanou and the Chair of the DPDA/Assoc. Prof. Marina Kotzamani, students from the 3 participating artistic projects of the department visited PQ2023 between June 13^th-18^th, enjoying the opportunity to watch international artistic participations from many countries both at the international competition and international student level, as well as various daily sections of the events (main international exhibition, student exhibition, fragments, performance space exhibition, PQ Talks). The DPDA participated with 3 curated artistic projects. Nafplion Blues: Prison Stories (concept-curator: Athena Stourna) and Transient Luminous Events (concept-curator: Bill Psarras) presented a series of new student artistic projects as part of the official Greek Student Mission, GR@PQ2023: A Rare Gathering, the first collaboration of 10 Greek Universities from 4 cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Nafplion, Florina) whose projects approached cities and public space as living archives of experiences and performative events. The project Rare Places of Communication Nafplion (concept-curator: Chariklia Thanou) participated within the framework of the Un(Common) Design Project (in the online gallery) with works by students of the Department of Performing and Digital Art that took place in Nafplion during the academic year 2022-2023. The presentation was completed with the printed bilingual catalogue of the Greek participation in PQ2023 that includes both the professional and student presence of Greece in PQ2023, under the auspices and support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports and in collaboration with the Athens Festival. The presentations of the DPDA took place successfully on Friday, June 16 2023, (afternoon/evening) where visitors from various countries were informed of the department’s profile and artistic projects by teaching staff and students.

During their visit to Prague, the members of the Department arranged a meeting with Professor Brano Mazuch, (Department of Puppet and Alternative Theatre at DAMU, University of Prague, Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, a UOP Erasmus partner formed in the interests of arranging further collaborations). Students from both departments also came together to exchange ideas and experiences. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The trip to PQ2023 was funded for all participants by the University of the Peloponnese.

The presence of the DPDA at PQ2023 laid the foundations for the future participation of the department in various areas of the international festival, both at the student and professional level, highlighting once again the hybrid emerging nature of the department’s profile in the convergences of performing and digital arts! Indicative visual material from the department’s visit to PQ2023 is attached.

The trailer of the Department’s participation: https://vimeo.com/830830658
Information concerning participants: https://pda-old.uop.gr/symmetochi-tppst-stin-pq-2023/
Curatorial Information about the Projects: https://transientluminousevents.wordpress.com/
The website of the Greek mission: https://greeceatpq.gr/

#departmentpda #dpda_PQ2023 #universityofthepeloponnese

DPDA students (from left to right): **Psarianou Κ., Goga Κ., Mantzavinou, Κ., Stogiannidou, Β., Delavia, Λ., Kaloudopoulou, Χ., Neamoniti, Α., Koritsidou, Γ., Zagla, Μ., Palimei, Ε.**

DPDA Faculty Staff (from left to right): **Bill Psaras, Marina Kotzamani, Athena Stourna, Chara Thanou**

The **bilingual exhibition catalogue** of the Greek Pavilion of both professional and student sections (available copy at the Academic Student Library – School of Arts, Nafplion)

Translation: Maria Varsam (DPDA teaching staff)