Escape into the world of Illusion 2025

Escape into the World of Illusion

An exhibition diptych in Athens and Vienna, that bridges the gap between reality and illusion

When current conditions, surroundings, and emotions become overwhelming, we often seek escape into a temporary and enhanced pseudo- world. Although each narrative differs, ranging from the emotive film featuring plastic superheros to the timeless battle between good and evil, the setting is always given in excessive luxury and glamour in the style of a Hollywood production.

The seemingly inevitable "happy ending" is introduced at the right moment, serving as redemption and catharsis, dispelling gloomy thoughts. Constant pressure for success and social advancement eventually becomes an illusory and unattainable goal with the opposite outcome leading to an epic retreat. Ideologies of broader political, sporting, or religious subcultures often arise from the failure to meet goals, replacing them with imaginary solutions to real problems, without, however, providing a viable solution.

Art feeds on this, emerging as the only underlying force capable of shaping a parallel world. The vast artistic meadows, sprouting with ideas and works of all kinds, nurtures a unique ecosystem of heroic symbolism and fabricated crises, creating the ideal conditions for an escape into the world of illusion.

Georg Georgakopoulos, Michalis Argyrou - Vienna 2025

Artists

Viktoria Andreeva, Alina Grabovsky, Dean Maassen, Helen Mesadou, Semina Milarokosta, Olga Pastekova, Roman Pfeffer, Michael René Sell, Despoina Vaxevanidi

Performance: 22.11.

„Delphi“, ExMachinisMusicae: Milena Nowak, Haruki Noda, Catherine Spet, Mara Koppitsch, Alejandro López Alvarez

Escape into the World of Illusion
Opening: Monday, 17. November 2025, 19:00 – 22:00
17. – 23. November, 2025
Hours: Monday – Sunday 16:00 – 19:00

Splitart Projects Wien
Radetzkystrasse 4, 1030 Wien

Organised by: APART Art Research and Applications
With the financial support and under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
Coordinated by: CHEAPART
In cooperation with Kunst im Keller Wien
Supported by: district Landstraße
Performance: „Delphi“, ExMachinisMusicae: Supported by: Stadt Wien Kultur

[l.] Alina Grabovsky, Roman Pfeffer, Michael René Sell

[l.] Roman Pfeffer, Michael René Sell, Despoina Vaxevanidi, Viktoria Andreeva, Helen Mesadou

[l.] Roman Pfeffer, Michael René Sell

[l.] Helen Mesadou, Semina Milarokosta, Olga Pastekova, Dean Maassen

Semina Milarokosta, Olga Pastekova, Dean Maassen

[l.] Roman Pfeffer, Michael René Sell, Viktoria Andreeva, Semina Milarokosta, Despoina Vaxevanidi, Olga Pastekova, Dean Maassen

[l.] Viktoria Andreeva, Helen Mesadou, Despoina Vaxevanidi

[l.] Delhi performance, ExMachinisMusicae

Delhi performance, ExMachinisMusicae

Opening night

Group photo [l.] Olga Pastekova, Michael René Sell, Georg Georgakopoulos, Dean Maassen, Alina Grabovsky, Roman Pfeffer, Viktoria Andreeva

Group photo with Group photo [l] ExMachinisMusicae:, Mara Koppitsch, Catherine Spet Milena Nowak, Haruki Noda, Alejandro López Alvarez, Georg Georgakopoulos

Artists, curators and crowd