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and morality, Sophocles could not have written
Antigone,
nor could we have been able to
understand where power ends, where freedom
begins and how these two come into conflict
(in this case, let “sacrifice” be discerned as
collateral damage).
Allow me to express a wish. Let’s imagine
arbitrarily (superficially even) that ideas can be
released from their CVs and that the character
of this distinction aims merely to make us
understand. Thus, it is with this distinction
between distinction and distinction that I would
like to accept the honour that is conferred on
me today. As this applies solely to my ideas.
Mr President, Ms Louki Nemitsas, Mr Takis
Nemitsas, dear committee, thank you.
On the other hand, I am fonder of the word
“success”, as here the “dis” that distinguishes,
is replaced by a parasitical “in” (as in
“successful in” or “succeed in”), even if I
prefer parasites to words. You see, “in” is a
parasite upon words, wearing them out, merely
to emphasise their meaning. So here is another
paradox, as I like to refer to the parasitism
of being in luck as my second point - which
lies on the fact that I am “in luck” to have the
support of an exceptional family, meaning my
parents and my sister, as well as the constant
companionship of exceptional friends who are
here now, or of others who are unfortunately
far away and of those friends who will always
be far away - and of a wider community of
imaginary and real fellow travellers who have
helped me doubt the obvious and pursue a less
absolute filter for approaching reality.
I acknowledge the limits of tradition
within which I move – the tradition we
have awkwardly and “timelessly” named
“contemporary art”. I often hear about the
difficulties of understanding the language
that I have chosen to use alongside many
others, a language that I think can be
justifiably considered self-referential or
even “self-consuming”. I will not speak as
an apologist of contemporary art – I have
never worshiped it anyway, I hate doctrines,
I changed directions several times, as well as
ideas, sensations and aesthetics – but I take
this opportunity to explain exactly where I
President Nicos Anastasiades and First Lady Andri Anastasiades are welcomed by founders Takis and Louki Nemitsas
