Street Painting Team... : President of the Association of Visual Arts-Artists-Handicrafts Marianna Aretaki.

Street Painting Team Meets .... “The President of the Association of Visual Arts-Artists-Handicrafts ATHINA ERGANI” Marianna Aretaki.

Marianna Aretaki

- How does a street artist who expose and sells his works on the road survives?

-What happens with the illegal trade that brought decadence in the market?

-Is there any solidarity between street artist?

--What is your position now, about staying in the Historic Center of Athens?

Αθηνά Εργάνη - Εικαστικοί Καλλιτέχνες Χειροτέχνες Ελλάδας

Marianna Aretaki is steet artist-painter. He is from Anogia of Crete and is a graduate of Fine Arts. An artist who has been living as a street artist-seller at the Historic Center of Athens, and generally in the open-air trade, with her works. She spoke for her own perspective as a Street Artist.

We met her, create herself and sell her art, in a difficult time for both art and survival, on all levels.

Marianna Aretaki

-How did you decide to become a street artist?

At first it was out of necessity and I can tell you that I was ashamed enough. At some point in an art place where I had participated as an exhibitor I met a colleague who said to me: "How did you come down like this?!" From that moment I stoped been ashamed . I went out on the street and got my head high.

art by :

M & Alex

After 2 years, together with other colleagues, I started the Association of Fine ArtsCraftsmen. There are members of the club from different cities of Greece and they are Pan-European. We also have the club's page where we are uploading photos so that there is an out-of-focus and also showing the Holders what Craftsmanship means. It does not mean that where you see a bench is a Handyman. We have made a very big fight to get this out.

- How does a street artist survives who exposes his work on the road?

Mostly is your body that survives . Your soul survives by reward. Communicating with the customer is not just an impersonal trade. Even with Henna while you're doing the client, you talk to him, you becoming his psychologist and he'll come back to find you. This thing is a mental connection, and this can be done by someone who itself has the need for contact.

henna tattoo : Alex

All artists are schizophrenic, you have to be crazy to do such things.

When someone comes and tells you that you will give it cheaper? You say no. Why? Because it is not for just an object for sale, it is a piece of my soul. I can give it to you for free, that may sound mad. So I give it and myself I will rebuild something else and I will be full, but I will not discount you because you can not make a discount on art

Marianna Aretaki

-Is there solidarity between the street sellers/artists ?

Trust and solidarity are necessary and unfortunately they do not exist.

Especially in the Outdoor industry, I insisted myself with great effort, the KIN.SEP of Artists.

It is so much spread misery fear and poverty, we believe that we too will change nothing.

The first two years I remember in the beginning, I saw young kids, Fine Arts students, children of the province who made things and gave to their pockrt money or go on vacation, filled the street with artists.

Το Μαντείο των Τεχνών

Then came the Crisis, so an aggressive behavior began like "This is My Space", I do not want you next to me no matter what you sell. We think it suits to be the "ready made" next to us and not handmade.Tthere is the mentality that the man who wants the handmade, when seen handmade here handmade there will share the pie.That if you are between scrapers and "imitation" products will only get from you. Finally, solidarity was dead because it was fatal to be done.

\παρτάκι στην πλατεία με το Μαντείο

We have come to the point where we are squatting between us, a great war for the place. If I am late I know that I can not come later or if it rains I lost the day, I will not keep the place just in case ...

We must be able to coexist and have an obligation to respect others, just as the other has the same obligation to us. This doesn't happen, we have reached the other end creating isolated small teams,without leaving room for any new person. I am against all this.

airbrush art by : Alex

-What about the illegal trade that brought the decadence?

This is where the illegal trade is growing .We buy Chinese, the lowest-quality products are falling into the open market. Something that makes half and one euro it will pass, especially in tourist places. The people will buy it because there is a global crisis. It is no coincidence that they are not chasing the Chinese. At present, the Chinese have their own piece at the port of the country. See Koumoundourou over the many grocery stores, etc. You see containers that do not control what goes out even at midday.

Everywhere cheap tourist product, is all the same and has to do with Ancient Greece. This thing is not touched by anyone. Within all othis, we are the alibi.

https://www.facebook.com/TO.MANTEIO.TWN.TEXNWN.KOINSEP/photos/a.1768263080165960/1768263660165902/?type=3&theater

-In wich place are street sellers/artist now in terms of staying at the Historic Center of Athens?

At the moment, we are given a decision by the City Council because they were pressured to re-open the road. We gave interviews, we opened the road, the world came to support us.

We could, between us, now that running a plan from the City of Athens and Archeology to close the road and not to decline as it has evolved. We are all in the same sack even the shops, except here we are not talking about table-chairs but we are talking about souls

Marianna Aretaki

The majority of artists no longer claim anything, all they ask is "let us be ". That for me is not a claim is a resignation. If we put down w

hat unites us that are more than what separates us we can do many things.

If you go for a walk now in Thiseio, you will see an artist at ten sellers, in no time there will be no one. Not because it can not survive only, but why people adapt.

- Is there no vision and future?

My dream is a multipurpose space where people could be, either old or young, to find a roof to develop their talents. It may be their hobbies or their dream. Talent and dream have not age. If for example a man has taken his retirement , and his dream was to become a musician or painter, who would deprive him of the right to paint and live the rest of his active life doing what he loves?

These spaces are necessary for a soul to rise and to leave the miseries that have brought us.

We have entered a process that we live with a bonus, we do not talk, do not make dreams.