Hello Athens!

We are so excited to bring our anonymous art auction to Greece for the very first time! Dead Darlings is an interactive art event that combines elements of performance and exhibition in the form of an unconventional auction. This is the first edition that will take place in Greece in collaboration with Cream Athens and the support of T.A.F. / the art foundation. The event consists of a public preview exhibition (14th — 16th Dec.), a live auction (Sunday, 17th Dec.) with a hand-made catalogue printed in collaboration with Sleep On It Press.

Exhibition Opening and Auction Preview:
Thursday 14th December: 19:00 — 23:00

Exhibition Open to Visitors:
Friday 15th, Saturday 16th December: 15:00 — 23:00

Dead Darlings Auction:
Sunday 17th December: 17:00 — 20:30
Doors Open: 15:00

Location:
T.A.F. / the art foundation
Normanou 5, Athens 10555

We sent out an Open Call to artists based in Greece, and the response was overwhelming! Our final selection of 57 artworks, includes a wide array of diverse artists, from various generations and contexts, working in different media, with one thing in common: they have all killed their darlings!

The name Dead Darlings was inspired by the phrase “kill your darlings”. This refers to a work that an artist has created, yet for any variety of reasons, was not yet brought to light. Perhaps it was too experimental, too complicated, too personal, too atypical. Whatever it is that makes this piece a dead darling, means that its place in the artist’s oeuvre is ambiguous and valuation is difficult…

That’s where we come in, to breathe new life into those special artworks! These are works that would not normally be presented for sale and therefore are offered here by the artists at symbolically low starting prices. We aim to highlight and consider works that would otherwise remain in the shadows, and bypass market standards, giving people who would not ordinarily be able to afford an original artwork the chance to salvage one of these darlings. We view it as a generous act of letting go and as an act of inclusion.

Bidders give value to the works on their own terms, regardless of the prominence or obscurity of their maker. The auction is held in an informal and casual atmosphere where the formality of the auction format is reproduced, and satirized in equal measure.

Participation is free. Check our online catalogue below and come visit us on the preview days to look around and say hi! On the day of the auction, please come early to register for your bidding paddle, find a good seat and grab a drink from the bar! There is no added fee to the selling price; you can pay for (please bring cash), and take your darling home right away!

T.A.F. / the art foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that supports emerging artists, experimentation and the exploration and encounter of different fields of art. It is open to curatorial proposals and hosts exhibitions with an emphasis on the collective spirit. The New Museum of Contemporary Art has chosen T.A.F. / the art foundation as one of the 3 representatives of Greece for the promotion of Contemporary Greek Art. Since its creation in 2009, it has hosted more than 1,500 artists from Greece and abroad, while it is always open to more hybrid proposals, thus creating a vibrant platform in the city centre, a multi-space and a network of thinking and creative individuals.

Founded in 2017 by Nia Hefe Filiogianni, Cream Athens supports emerging and established artists and provides development opportunities through group or tailored coaching sessions, and collaborations with galleries, brands, and different partners across the globe. We strengthen communities and encourage the coming together of creatives in exchanging ideas and bringing significant change to the art world.