Passage / OpenArtLink 2025 Pireus
Invitations of Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava.
Athinon 8-12, 185 40, Piraeus 185 40
Curated by: Lars* Kollros
Artists: Italia Bruno, Katrin Euller, Sáro Gottsein, Arash Lorestani, Federico Niccolai, Patrick Topitschnig, Sascha Alexandra Zaitseva.
The history of Piraeus has been inseparably tied to maritime trade for 2,500 years. The port shapes the city and provides both Athens and the Greek islands with everything necessary for survival. The free flow of goods is a cornerstone of the European Union, as is the free movement of people. Yet in practice, this freedom is heavily restricted—especially at the Schengen external borders, such as here in Greece—where the correct passport is required and checked every time someone boards or disembarks from an international ship.
These restrictions, however, are not applied equally. Owners of large yachts are often exempt from such controls, enjoying protection within the gated communities of marinas.
Women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender (FLINTA) people, along with queer individuals, face multiple layers of discrimination. Passports may display the wrong name or gender; those with caregiving responsibilities encounter additional challenges when crossing borders, sometimes “illegally”; and FLINTA people are disproportionately at risk of sexual assault.