Bertille Bak: SPOTLIGHT

The National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens is celebrating women's art this season with a series of group and solo exhibitions honouring pioneering female artists.

Bertille Bak is the first artist to be the focus of EMST’s SPOTLIGHT programme, an exciting new initiative that showcases the work of a single artist from the museum's collection, offering the public a deeper understanding of the artist's creative process.

Bak's work transforms everyday life into fantastical narratives, blending film, installation, and community participation. One of the pieces on display, Mineur Mineur (2022) features five synchronised video projections, highlighting the resilience of children working in mines around the world, from Bolivia to Madagascar. This poignant installation juxtaposes the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of economic exploitation.

Also on display is Untitled (2009), an installation of doors from demolished houses in Barlin, Northern France, reflecting on the impact of gentrification. You also get to see Bak’s series of drawings that depict the façades of coal miners’ homes before renovation or demolition. As you can tell, there's a recurring theme here, which is no coincidence. Growing up in a family of coal miners in the French North, Bak’s background deeply influences her work and choice of subject.