mezedes on the ilissos — a parasitic dinner


dinner, sound installation
2022

A collaboration with Lena Violetta Leitner.

Can a meaningful exchange become an artwork? I met Vienna-based artist Lena Violetta Leitner during her residency in Athens. Over the course of several meetings, we spoke about parasites, the rivers of Athens, our experiences working in the cultural sector, and what it means to be a foreigner in the city. Mezedes, Greek appetizers, were a constant presence during our conversations.

At one point, we wondered: could these shared meals themselves become an artwork? This question led us to organise a “parasitic” dinner at a special location—the nearly dried-up Ilissos river. We were joined by two Athenians, whom we served a six-course menu composed of questions, reflections, associations, and quotes from interviews with scientists and philosophers, alongside our favourite mezedes.

The project was later presented as a sound installation at State of Concept in Athens, as part of the event Where is the river?




Photos of the dinner, the invitation, the menu, and the sound-installation. Photos courtesy of Lena Violetta Leitner and Frederiek Simons.


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I am a textile artist, researcher, and writer based in Amsterdam. Through my work runs a tangible thread spun from questions about materials, patterns, hierarchies, histories and traditions.

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© Frederiek Simons, 2024