DEMOS – A Reconstruction by Andreas Angelidakis, described as an invitation project, features 74 large vinyl encased foam blocks of various shapes and sizes that are covered in colorful patterns and can easily be moved around to form new shapes and structures. This interactive display is credited as the first-ever invitation project housed in the Museum of Contemporary Art and was opened to the public on September 22, 2018.
Available to people of all ages, DEMOS – A Reconstruction motivates participants to delve into critical concepts surrounding architecture and technology. Although initially encompassing the entirety of the first floor, the display has currently been reduced to a single corner, next to the elevators that take you to the rest of the museum’s exhibitions.
Due to its reduced size and limited space, the display isn’t as visually entrancing as it used to be. However, there is a creative space next to the project, which holds art supplies and magazines where individuals can make their own artworks and collages. Considering the interactive structure of the project, it would be enjoyed best by children and large groups rather than solo patrons.
DEMOS – A Reconstruction was also featured in Nuit Blanche 2018, where Angelidakis had it arranged in a structure resembling a stage and used as seating for the viewing of Tetris Mountain (2003), Building an Electronic Ruin (2011), and MINERVA (2014). These three videos explored Angelidakis’ digital projects preceding the creation of DEMOS – A Reconstruction.
Born in Athens, Greek artist Andreas Angelidakis went on to study architecture in California and has received multiple awards for his academic achievements in the field. Angelidakis is a world-renowned artist and has had exhibitions in many cities around the world including Mexico City, Milan, Beijing, Istanbul, and Tokyo. In the early years of the 2000’s, Angelidakis was a member of NEEN, a collective that analyzed and worked with digital art, defined as “the emotional landscape of the internet” by the collective.
The purpose of interactive art is to remove the viewer from their passive position and include them in the artistic process. The interactive art itself can’t achieve its purpose unless the viewer participates, thus creating a unique experience for everyone involved. This is why artworks that require audience interaction are meant to be open for interpretation and don’t offer much information regarding the display.
The ground floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art, where the DEMOS – A Reconstruction project is located, is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs until January 5, 2020.
