Esto Association X Okay Initiative Space →
Exhibition opening — Becoming Otherwise
Thursday October 2, 19:00 ─ 23:00
[2 locations]
Opening at Esto 19:00 — Zaimi 24, Exarcheia
Then we move with a live performance by Fabian Neisius to Okay Initiative Space until 23:00 — Kefallinias 7, Kypseli
'Becoming Otherwise' explores how contemporary design practices can evolve through deeply personal, auto-ethnographic approaches, challenging traditional manners and the externalised focus of conventional design methodologies.
The exhibition aims to offer an alternative perspective on design as a form of cultural critique, self-inquiry, and collective connection, highlighting the relevance of personal narratives in shaping broader social and political dialogues.
Traditionally, design has often been an act of materialising "otherness," fulfilling external market, industrial, or political needs, frequently reinforcing social hierarchies. Inspired by the book The Autoethnographic Turn in Design (ed. Louise Schouwenberg and Michael Kaethler), this exhibition critically examines these dynamics and invites both designers and audiences to reconsider the role of the personal within design processes.
The exhibition asks: What happens when the designer becomes both the subject and object of their work? By centering their own lived experiences, the participating designers blur the lines between personal and collective narratives, showcasing works that address themes such as memory, identity, trauma, and belonging. Through this lens, design becomes not just a tool for production but a site for reflection, critique, and connection.
The exhibition aims to shift the focus in design from external demands to self-inquiry alongside cultural reflection. It proposes a dialogue between personal narratives and broader societal issues, presenting emerging voices from the Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE) in a transnational collaboration.
By showcasing design as an introspective and socially critical practice, [title] aims to expand the public’s understanding of what design can be, inspire new forms of practices within design and contemporary art. Employing empathy and interpersonal connections through personal storytelling, it invites for a view on design from a vast range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences through the participants' decolonial approach.
Becoming Otherwise brings together 16 alumni from the Design Academy of Eindhoven (DAE) who will present their work for the first time at Esto Association and Okay Initiative Space in Athens.
Curation: Esto Association
Hosting: Esto Association and Okay Initiative Space
Artists:
Orestis Telemachou @tileores
Ella Wanendeya @ella.wanendeya
Fabian Neisius @nssfabb
Niki Maria Lore
Dana Elmi Sarabi @danaelmi
Eva Pobeda @evapobeda
canvaswan @canvaswan
Yannis Mantzaris @yannismantzaris
Christos voutsas @christos.voutsas
Pauline Bernichan @pauline.bernichan
Ieva Valule @ievavalule
Gaia D’Λrrigo @gaiadrr
Eleni Vrettakou @elenivrett
Phèdre Barbas @phedrebarbas
Niki Danai Chania @niki__danai
Visiting hours:
Esto Associaiton
3-7 Oct., 17:00 ─ 21:00
Zaimi 24, Earxhia
Open in Maps
Okay Initiative Space
3-12 Oct., 17:00 ─ 21:00
Kefalinias 7, Kipseli
Open in Maps
self-initiative in graphics, objects, and XR.