In November 2000, Els Hanappe Underground opened as a gallery for contemporary art in Athens, Greece. The gallery’s mission was to introduce international artists to the Greek cultural scene and to promote young Greek artists abroad.
Els Hanappe Underground was located in Psyrri, a popular neighbourhood with an Eastern feel and buzz. Outdoor sellers compete with overflowing shop windows, beggars and stray dogs switch places in the shade. It is an artists’ paradise; everything is for sale, from a needle to an anchor. One can visit the extensive meat, fish and vegetable markets or bargain with the East-European cigarette and perfume smugglers. Trendy bars, restaurants, shops and galleries co-exist with local workshops and artisans; lively outdoor cafes alternate with lovely old churchyards. Behind one of the Byzantine churches, on a quiet side street, was the entrance to Els Hanappe Underground. A big metal door opened up to a marble stairway that led you down into the gallery. Here, one could take a break from the hubbub of the city, contemplate a work of art, leaf through a magazine from the library, discuss or chat with visiting artists, while sitting on the cushioned ledges around the walls.
Els Hanappe Underground showed a tendency towards exhibitions by artists born in the 60s and 70s whose concern is pretty much related to the heritage of that era, and the influence of high and late modernism. References are made to other fields including advertising, architecture, and music, expressed in a multitude of media, most notably drawing, a focus on new sculpture, and video. The gallery was increasingly intent on creating a dialogue on the nature of contemporaneity, bringing together seemingly opposite sides such as the socio-political interpretations of the world – often through the use of the documentary style, with reflections as expressed through the more traditional and formal media such as painting and sculpture.
Past Program
Archeology of Today?, curated by Vangelis Vlahos & Despina Zefkili Contibutors: Albert Heta, Duncan Campbell, Hito Steyerl, Stephen Sutcliffe, Yiannis Grigoriadis, Zbynek Baladran, 7/12/2005 – 21/1/2006
Screening with works by Nathalie Djurberg, Yiannis Grigoriadis, Carolina Saquel, Nayia Frangouli 26/11/2005 & 3/12/2005, 12-8 p.m.
Yiannis Grigoriadis, Melancholy of an autumn afternoon (after De Chirico), 3/11/2005 – 25/11/2005
Christos Lialios, Setting up a brand new alphabet, 13/10/2005 – 29/10/2005
Robert Platt & Takeshi Masada, Practically Sublime, duo show, 8/9/2005 – 8/10/2005
Nayia Frangouli, The Misuse of Plans, 21/5/2005 – 25/6/2005
Adam Chodzko, Alan Michael, Corrina Peipon, Jason Middlebrook, Katja Strunz, Nayia Frangouli, Vangelis Vlahos, The Armory Show, 11-14/3/2005, Piers 90 & 92, booth 92-132, New York
Accrochage with the gallery artists, 23/3/2005 – 23/4/2005
Despina Isaïa & Hatice Güleryüz, duo show, 20/1/2005 – 19/2/2005
Corrina Peipon & Nina Papaconstantinou, con(text)ure (duo show) and a presentation of the publication Gagarin, 9/12/2004 – 13/1/2005
Hito Steyerl & Vangelis Vlahos, duo show, 21/10/2004 – 20/11/2004
Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9/9/2004 – 9/10/2004
Koen Wastijn & Nicolas Kozakis, duo show (on the occasion of the Olympic Games), 20/5/2004 – 10/7/2004 and 3-31/8/2004 from 20.00-24.00 every day
Apostolos Karastergiou, art athina 04, 7 – 10/5/2004
Group Show curated by Gary Webb, Help Participating artists: Antje Majewski, Gary Webb, Henry Coleman, James Baxter, James Ferris, Katja Strunz, Luke Dowd, Nicole Wermers, Roger Hiorns, Saron Hughes, 25/10/2003 – 6/12/2003
Valérie Mannaerts, Month of Photography, Drawings and Photographs, (catalogue entry)
Hayley Tompkins, Katja Strunz, Valerie Mannaerts, three subsequent women artists’ shows, 4/2003 – 7/2003 Text by Katerina Gregos
Jason Meadows, Story Book Medicine Levels, 26/2/2003 – 5/3/2003
Apostolos Karastergiou & Despina Isaïa, duo show, 23/1/2003 – 22/2/2003
Barbara Visser,The World belongs to Early Risers, 22/11/2002 – 11/1/2003, Text by Alexandra Koroxenidis
Vangelis Vlahos, Intermezzo
Alex Slade, The paintings of Mrs. Margaret C. Wellington, Mansett, ME, 26/9/2002 -19/10/2002
Art Cologne, 30/10/2002 – 3/11/2002
Peter Downsbrough, Kurt D’Haeseleer, and Ken Kobland, selection by Argos (Brussels), video projection introducing three short films – program 1h10′, 25/9/2002, 9:00 pm
Alex Slade, The paintings of Mrs. Margaret C. Wellington, Mansett, ME, 5 – 27/7/2002
Alan Michael & Vangelis Vlahos, duo show, 18/4/2002 – 8/6/2002
Vangelis Vlahos with Scott Myles, Stephen Sutcliffe, and Mary Redmond, The PRoject SPace Hosted by Els Hanappe Underground and The Breeder basements projects, 7 – 30/3/2002
Kate Barba, Painting Exhibition, 19/1/2002 – 16/2/2002
Art Athina ’01, 23-26/11/2001
Adam Chodzko, Limbo Land, 24/11/2001 – 22/12/2001
Eva Rothschild, Sculpture Exhibition, 20/10/2001 – 17/11/2001
George Kazazis, Painting Exhibition, 7/6/2001 – 7/7/2001
Martin Boyce, Disappear Here, 11/5/2001 – 2/6/2001
Vangelis Vlahos, Project, 30/3/2001-5/5/2001, Text by Liberty Vance
Dave Muller, ‘Music’ three day weekend, exhibition and event organized by the artist, 24, 25, 26/2/2001, music by DJ Handpuppet and DJ Mulldozer
Dimitra Barba, I Love You Love Me Love, 12/1/2001 – 17/2/2001
Alan Michael, Keith Farquhar and Lucy Mckenzie, Panache by Flourish Studio, Glasgow, 4/11/2000 – 23/12/2000
Archeology of Today?, 7 December 2005-21 January 2006Archeology of Today?, 7 December 2005-21 January 2006Archeology of Today?, 7 December 2005-21 January 2006Nayia Frangouli, The Misuse of Plans, 21 May–25 June 2005Nayia Frangouli, The Misuse of Plans, 21 May– 25 June 2005Nayia Frangouli, The Misuse of Plans, 21May-25 June 2005The Armory Show, 11-14 March 2005, Piers 90 & 92, booth 92-132, New YorkThe Armory Show, 11-14 March 2005, Piers 90 & 92, booth 92-132, New YorkDespina Isaïa & Hatice Güleryüz, duo show, 20 January–19 February 2005Despina Isaïa & Hatice Güleryüz, duo show, 20 January–19 February 2005Despina Isaïa & Hatice Güleryüz, duo show, 20 January–19 February 2005Corrina Peipon & Nina Papaconstantinou, con(text)ure, duo show, and a presentation of the publication Gagarin, 9 December 2004–13 January 2005Corrina Peipon & Nina Papaconstantinou, con(text)ure, duo show, and a presentation of the publication Gagarin, 9 December 2004–13 January 2005Hito Steyerl & Vangelis Vlahos, duo show, 21 October–20 November 2004Hito Steyerl & Vangelis Vlahos, duo show, 21 October–20 November 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2014Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Adam Chodzko, Design for a Carnival, 9 September-9 October 2004Koen Wastijn & Nicolas Kozakis, duo show, 20/5/2004 – 10/7/2004 and 3-31/8/2004Koen Wastijn and Nicolas Kozakis, duo show, 20/5/2004 – 10/7/2004 and 3-31/8/2004Koen Wastijn and Nicolas Kozakis, duo show, 20 May–10 July 2004 and 3-31 August 2004art athina 04, 7–10 May 2004Yiannis Grigoriadis, Arabophobia, 25 February–7 April 2004Yiannis Grigoriadis, Arabophobia, 25 February–7 April 2004Yiannis Grigoriadis, Arabophobia, 25 February–7 April 2004ARCO – Grecia 04, 12-16 February 2004, MadridARCO 2004, MadridARCO 2004, MadridJason Middlebrook, APL#2, 10 December 2003-7 February 2004Jason Middlebrook, APL#2, 10 December 2003-7 February 2004Jason Middlebrook, APL#2, 10 December 2003-7 February 2004Vangelis Vlahos, installation preview for ARCO ’04 and the 3rd Berlin Biennale, October 2003Project by Vangelis Vlahos, October 2003: installation preview for ARCO ’04 and the 3rd Berlin BiennaleVangelis Vlahos, installation preview for ARCO ’04 and the 3rd Berlin Biennale, October 2003HELP, group show curated by Gary Webb, 25 October-6 December 2003HELP, group show curated by Gary Webb, 25 October-6 December 2003HELP, group show curated by Gary Webb, 25 October-6 December 2003HELP, group show curated by Gary Webb, 25 October-6 December 2003HELP, group show curated by Gary Webb, 25 October-6 December 2003HELP, group show curated by Gary Webb, 25 October-6 December 2003Hayley Tompkins, 9 April-21 May 2003Hayley Tompkins, Oh! Replica, 9 April-21 May 2003Hayley Tompkins, Oh! Replica, 9 April-21 May 2003Hayley Tompkins, Oh! Replica, 9 April-21 May 2003Katja Strunz, 21 May-27 July 2003Katja Strunz, Unendlich, 21 May-27 July 2003Katja Strunz, Unendlich, 21 May-27 July 2003Katja Strunz, Unendlich, 21 May-27 July 2003Katja Strunz, Unendlich, 21 May-27 July 2003Valerie Mannaerts, 27 June-26 July 2003, invitation designValerie Mannaerts, 27 June-26 July 2003Valerie Mannaerts, 27 June-26 July 2003Jason Meadows, Story Book Medicine Levels, 26 February–5 March 2003Jason Meadows, Story Book Medicine Levels, 26 February–5 March 2003Jason Meadows, Story Book Medicine Levels, 26 February–5 March 2003Jason Meadows, Story Book Medicine Levels, 26 February–5 March 2003Apostolos Karastergiou, duo show with Despina Isaïa, 23 January-22 February 2003Apostolos Karastergiou, duo show with Despina Isaïa, 23 January-22 February 2003Barbara Visser, The World belongs to Early Risers, 22/11/2002 – 11/1/2003Barbara Visser, The World belongs to Early Risers, 22/11/2002 – 11/1/2003Vangelis Vlahos, project, 30 March-5 May 2001Vangelis Vlahos, project, 30 March-5 May 2001Vangelis Vlahos, Project, 30 March-5 May 2001Vangelis Vlahos, Project, 30 March-5 May 2001Vangelis Vlahos, Project, 30 March-5 May 2001Alex Slade, The paintings of Mrs. Margaret C. Wellington, Mansett, ME, 5–27 July 2002Alex Slade, The paintings of Mrs. Margaret C. Wellington, Mansett, ME, 26 September-19 October 2002Art Cologne, 30 October-3 November 2002Vangelis Vlahos, duo show with Alan Michael, 18 April–8 June 2002Vangelis Vlahos, duo show with Alan Michael, 18 April-8 June 2002Vangelis Vlahos, duo show with Alan Michael, 18 April-8 June 2002Alan Michael, duo show with Vangelis Vlahos, 18 April-8 June 2002Alan Michael, duo show with Vangelis Vlahos, 18 April-8 June 2002The PRoject SPace at Els Hanappe Underground, 7–30 March 2002Kate Barba, 19 January–16 February 2002Adam Chodzko, Limbo Land, 24 November–22 December 2001Adam Chodzko, Limbo Land, 24 November-22 December 2001Eva Rothschild, 20 October–17 November 2001Eva Rothschild, 20 October-17 November 2001George Kazazis, recent paintings, 7 June–7 July 2001Martin Boyce, Disappear Here, 11 May-2 June 2001Martin Boyce, Disappear Here, 11 May-2 June 2001Martin Boyce, Disappear Here, 11 May-2 June 2001Martin Boyce, Disappear Here, 11 May-2 June 2001Dave Muller, Music: Three-Day-Weekend, 24, 25, 26 February 2001Dave Muller, Music, 24 February-24 March, and Three Day Weekend, 24-26 February 2001 Dave Muller, Music, 24 February-24 March, and Three Day Weekend, 24-26 February 2001 Dave Muller, Music, 24 February-24 March, and Three Day Weekend, 24-26 February 2001 Dave Muller, Music, 24 February-24 March 2001, and Three Day Weekend, 24-26 February 2001Dave Muller, Music, 24 February-24 March, and Three Day Weekend, 24-26 February 2001Dimitra Barba, I Love You Love Me Love, 12 January–17 February 2001Panache by Flourish Studio, Glasgow, 4 November-23 December 2000Panache by Flourish Studio, 4 November-23 December 2000, invitation design Alan Michael, Keith Farquhar and Lucy Mckenzie, Panache by Flourish Studio, Glasgow, 4 November–23 December 2000Els Hanappe, Director and Owner of EHU
Original images by Vivianna Athanasopoulou except if otherwise stated.