ATHENSMUS: A SURVIVAL GUIDE
An alternative survival guide, exempt from touristic stereotypes and false showcases of self-promotion, faces the realistic side of Athens and its historical centre with a humouristic and critical glance. This particular attempt aims to reject the fake wrapping of the greek speculative tourism which is based on mousaka,syrtaki and tsoliades to replace it with the true beauties and fouls, yet with honesty and originality. From the degradated parks which boost with heroin to the tortured faces of immigrants who battle everyday for their survival in the urban jungle of Athens, ATHENSMUS targets beyond a touring point of wandering around the streets, in order to help the visitor gain a more critical view on what he sees. By looking at the people and the neighbourhoods from a different and more honest aspect the reader will be able to familiarize with the city's rhythm.
The students of the european exchange programme erasmus arrive in their new destination equiped with hope and excitement to unveal the secrets of this unknown city and a great lust for discovering and learning not so much about their studies but for communicating with others and getting to know anything new to them. From the citys high secrets to the daily habits of the greek youth, the foreign students have a big desire to be included inside the social network of this chaotic capital. They overpower the language barrier, as they are able to communicate either due to their youthful characters or with emotional means. They reject racism and prejudice and start to appreciate the diversity of their colleagues.
Finally, the target of this project is to reconstruct and revise the established meaning of a travel guide and transform it into a trustworthy tool that will facilitate the traveler-student through simplicity and will liberate him from the picturesque and commercial tourist line. By destructing all the stereotyped views over Athens, the unsuspected visitor will not be unpleasantly surprised by the real side of the city, but will instead stand up with a critical ability and an overall impression without been guided by the narrow horizons of a typical tourist guide.
the exhibition
