The WEIGHT of WAITING

Bench, Track Ballest (Granite Rocks), Participants

Miloi Train station

Argolida, Greece

2024

Performed as part of the Fichti Art Festival, was crucial in highlighting the festival's mission to protect and preserve cultural heritage through community engagement. This durational, participatory performance was uniquely designed for the event at the abandoned Miloi train station in Argolida, Greece.

The artist encouraged public participation and seamlessly intertwined materials from the abandoned railway station: white granite rocks, known as "track ballast," commonly found along train tracks, combined with the station's existing bench, creating a powerful collective performative installation.

Over two hours, starting at sunset, the audience was invited to participate in this evolving artwork, gradually piling the rocks onto the artist's lap, and each participant became an integral part of the artwork. This act transformed the artist's body into a living sculpture, embodying the weight of time and anticipation, while the festival's activities naturally became part of the performance.

The Fichti Art Festival revitalises historic sites of the abandoned railway stations of Mycenae, Argos, and Miloi. By involving citizens and showcasing international artists, the festival creates cultural hubs celebrating European culture's classical, traditional, and modern elements. The diverse group of volunteers behind the festival is committed to socio-economic alternative tourism, protection, and inclusive actions for vulnerable communities.

Thank you to the organisers : Eleni Tsetsekou - Founder & President of Fichti Art, Francesco Moretti- Artistic Director, Tamires Marinheiro & Fanny Hoetz - Coordinators, Νικος Κοντος & Bampis Antoniadis - Partners. This performance was documented by students from the École nationale supérieure d'architecture Paris - Belleville: Mathias Merolli, Paul Thoumyre, and Dorian Zimmer..A special thank you to Michel Zimmer for his assistance and to Pablo Berzal Atenas, Spyridon Kousouris. Fichti Art Festival Supported by the Chamber of Argolida, FOUGARO Art Centre