Tactus: Athens Digital Arts Festival 2021

To touch is to connect. But in our post-Covid world, the very notion of contact and human connectivity is in flux. Society has yet to find its new “beat”. New media and technology has been our lifeline; offering us enhanced contactless connections to help plug the physical void. 

The theme of this year’s Athens Digital Art Festival – Tactus - couldn’t be more relevant; as it seeks to redefine our concept of contact while we cast about for a new collective consciousness (if such a thing existed before). 

The ADAF 2021 hybrid edition reaches out to us both on-line (from September 20 to October 31); and in the physical world (from October 13-17). 

Launched as a reaction to the pandemic, ADAF Online has now become a dynamic offshoot of this popular (and free) annual festival; allowing a limitless international audience access to a raft of events, performances and exciting work by local and international artists.

Meanwhile, this year’s live event holds an extra ace.  It will take place at the new premises of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture, an entire historic neighbourhood, comprised of 18 restored buildings from the late 19th – early 20th century, in Plaka. The venues will host selected Greek and International artworks, culled from this year’s open call, across the categories: Video Art, Animation, Digital Image, Web Art, Installations, Virtual Reality, Games, Augmented Reality, Performances, Workshops, Talks, ADAF Kids and Festivals of The World.

Here are some highlights:

1. ADAF KIDS, a stand-alone digital arts festival dedicated to families, will occupy its own building and feature educational and entertaining activities, as well as diverse artwork. 
2. The Bath House of Winds, a monument dating from the first period of Turkish rule (1453-1669), will display works that stood out for their theme and relate to the meaning of the Other, as they emerged through this year’s theme “Tāctus”.
3. The façade of the Tzistaraki Mosque will feature a 3D Mapping Projection show and on the corner of Areos and Kladou Street, there will be open air screenings.
4. The terraces of the main museum will host performances and the building, 19 Panos Street (the ex-café of the Athens School of Fine Arts), will be revived with a series of special events.  

To book your free ticket and time slot, as well as reserve a seat at a workshop or talk, visit the link below.