Dimitris Rentoumis
Photo by Katherina Heil
Dimitris Rentoumis is an Onassis AiR Exchange Resident 2019-20 at Beirut Art Residency (Lebanon).
Dimitris Rentoumis (b. 1980, Αthens, Greece) studied painting at the Αthens School of Fine Arts (2006–11). He holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from AKV|St. Joost–Master Institute of Visual Cultures (2012–14) and is an alumnus of the Jan Van Eyck Academie (2016–17) in Maastricht, the Netherlands. He has participated in shows and residencies in Greece, the Netherlands and internationally. His studio practice encompasses drawing, sculpture, video installations and writing. He has also worked as an art educator for adults and children.
Dimitris Rentoumis is one of the Onassis ΑiR Exchange Residents (2020) at BAR (Beirut Art Residency).
His research is focused on forms of narrativity within the studio environment. Rentoumis tries to imagine the common source for his works and writings which perhaps could be related to what John Berger describes as “the living creature of language.” His intention is to extract elements of poetry and fiction from his daily working routine during the residency in Beirut, while defining a way to express them. What kind of story can emerge after an intimate involvement with materials, and how can this story be shared with an audience? How do the textual and tactile aspects of studio work complement each other? Fiction in his practice will eventually gain a vocal character.
As a result of the online adaptation of “The Text of Appearances” -a series of workshops exploring the use of text in visual arts- Dimitris Rentoumis created the digital publication “Visiting in times of seclusion” that brings together a collection of texts, poems, and visual testimonies by the students of the School of Visual Arts ALBA and the students of Studio 11 of the Athens School of Fine Arts, produced during the months of the lockdown.
The online project “Visiting in times of seclusion” was realized after an invitation by Gregory Buckakjian and is part of the Visiting Artist/Researcher/Curator/Workshop of Academic Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (Alba) for 2020.
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