Πολύ σημαντικοί εκπρόσωποι της διεθνούς εικαστικής σκηνής, στηρίζουν με επιστολές τους την παραμονή της διευθύντριας Άννας Καφέτση στο Εθνικό μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης. Οι Σιρίν Νεσάτ, Ίλια και Εμιλία Κάμπακοφ, Γκιουλσούν Καραμουσταφά, Μααρία Βιρκάλα και Κιμσούτζα απέστειλαν επιστολές που μόλις κοινοποιήθηκαν στον τύπο με σχετικό mail.
Οι επιστολές:
It come to our attention that You are planning to replace the director of The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, Mrs.Anna Kafetsi. This is such an unbelievable information that we cannot believe its true. We know and did work with Anna Kafetsi for more then 20 years and nor only she is an outstanding champion of museum,artist and art, but she is the strongest advocate of culture around the world. The best exhibitions were done in Greece at EMST because of her leadership and curatorial work. It will be the biggest mistake of Greece Government and a tragedy for International Art World, if Mrs Kafetsi,with her enormous knowledge,energy and amount of respect from the art world she earned during the years of her work will not be there to make all connections, exhibitions,etc.We hope that she will continue her outstanding performance as a director of this museum and that we will be able to come to Athens again and again to enjoy the exhibitions ,organized and curated by Anna Kafetsi.
Sincerely
Ilya and Emilia Kabakov
Dear All:
My name is Shirin Neshat, I am an Iranian born visual artist and filmmaker who had the pleasure of working with Anna Kafetsi several years ago on a major solo exhibition, as well as participating in a previous group exhibition both held at the EMST. I am writing today in support of Ms. Kafetsi who in my opinion is one of the most significant directors and curators in the contemporary art world today. Speaking from my personal experience, I have unforgettable memories of my first meetings with Ms. Kafetsi and eventually working together toward my solo exhibition as well as making “Mahdokht” a video which she commissioned. I have always regarded Ms. Kafetsi as an intelligent, kind, patient, humble and an extremely professional woman who despite her physical disability went out of her way to meet artists, to visit exhibitions all over the world, just so her museum’s program and city of Athen could be kept up to date with some of the most exciting and relevant contemporary art movements. It’s my belief that the absence of Ms. Katefsi would be a big blow for Greece’s artistic community, as no one could possibly replace her with the sort personal experience, history and most of all the knowledge she had about contemporary art and artists. Ms. Kafetsi has undeniably had everything to do with the development of EMST into becoming a major international museum. Therefore, I would encourage all people of politics and governmental offices to prevent the risk of losing this amazing director; as you will risk diminishing the importance of your museum from an international status to a local significance.
Sincerely,
Shirin Neshat
I fırst met Mrs.Anna Kafetsi the director of EMST, during her successful and very meaningful exhibition “Grand Promenade” in 2006 where I was invited as a participant artist. This event was not only a successful show that united the artists from many parts of the world but carried a mission that lead a way to establish the The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens in future as it deserves . As participating artists we all witnessed her devotion and dedication to her goal and shared her hopes for the preparation of the museum in its new condition.
My second meeting with her was in 2012 when I was invited to do my project The Apartment Building, in EMST, in the gloomy atmosphere of the financial crisis in Greece. The new museum project was still going on and Mrs, Anna Kafetsi without loosing her hope and with great insistence was following her ideals to make it come to life.
Throughout the years I have known her I have witnessed her sincere and continuous struggle for the The National Contemporary Museum of Athens, its collection and its new building. Now that the troubles came to an end, I believe she deserves more than anything to continue her mission, to share the long awaited conclusions of the fight she gave for the existence of her objective. She has the power and ultimate right to continue her position, until National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens comes to life and undertake its mission.
Gülsün Karamustafa
Artist
This message is from Maaria Wirkkala: Anna Kafetsi has been for me personally one of the most important persons in the international art world. I first met Mrs Anna Kafetsi through the legendary curator Harald Zeemann and Rosa Martinez. Mrs. Kafetsi’s way to look art and understand artists is exceptional. Her knowledge is based not only to the actual immediate easy way to look contemporary art but to her profound knowledge of our cultural heritage. This is very rare in art world and I am always impressed of her exceptional intelligence combined with the sense of poetry.
With all good wishes
Maaria
Dear Sir/Madam, I wish this message find you well. I am a Korean artist based in New York, Seoul and Paris who has been shown with great honor getting full support from the director, Anna Kafetsi, the New National Contemporary Art Museum. I am very concerned and disappointed that the opening of the new museum by Anna Kafetsi took so long than it should be without great support she and the museum deserves, although financial issues Greece might have encountered. Ever since I met Anna Kafetsi in person and worked together for the exhibition "Transcultures", in 2004, with the most important artists in this time, with special pieces she commissioned for the museum collection, followed by my solo exhibition "Kimsooja, Journey in the World" in 2005, I was totally convinced by her as the most honest person who has unusual clear and firm vision and leadership, sensitivity, broad and deep knowledge and dedication that demonstrates the promising museum to be established during the period she didn't even have a designated space and during the construction period, suffering the most difficult condition around her, personally, financially and politically. After my solo exhibition, I had an opportunity to donate my Bottari installation that was dedicated to her using mostly hers and museum staffs used clothes, however, I didn't want to donate permanently in case if it wasn't her who would open the museum. That was why I decided to do a long term loan (7 years at that time, each term) only to make sure the pieces will celebrate when she opens the new museum whish she payed such an unusual long period of dedication to open the new museum for the Greek and international audiences. I must say that her contribution to the international art world and beyond is much larger than what Greek audiences see and feel. Therefore I would like to show my full support for Anna Kafetsi to be the first director who opens the new museum and continue her wonderful program for the art world. It is a great moment to open the museum to the larger audiences with Athens as a venue for the next Documenta, Athens becomes a destination for many more contemporary art world people right now. It will be a great addition to open this New National Museum of cotemporary Art within Greek heritages and past history. I wish this letter convince you to support Anna Kafetsi who deserves to open the new museum and share her vision with national and international communities it in normality. Please feel free to contact to me should you have any questions. All my best wishes Kimsooja
