Alcaeus Spyrou (b.1991) is a filmmaker who researches the creation of mythologies for our industrial landscapes. By documenting these superstructures of capital from their logistical abstraction into their metaphysical and spiritual dimensions, he renders visible the effects they have on the environment and the inhabitants that populate and work in these topographies. These cultural landscapes, which are understood as interrelated sites across an area, contain archaeological evidence of how factors of production are organised in depth of time, their geo-political implications, but more importantly, how they stand as a reflection of society’s moral heritage.
Selected Screenings
2023 The Words Create Images, Biennale Internationale de Casablanca, Casablanca, MA
2021 School of Waters, Mediterranea Biennial, San Marino, SM
2019 Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin, Forum des Images & HKW, FR; DE
Prague Short Film Festival, MFF Karlovy Vary, Prague, CZ
2018 Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Liverpool Biennial & South London Gallery, UK
Once in Europa, Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
IndieLisboa International Film Festival, Culturgest, Lisbon, PT
Report - Notes from Reality, European Media Art Festival, Osnabruck, DE
Guest Lectures
2022 Minor Creative Strategies for a Society in Change, Editing Instructor, Leiden University, Leiden, NL
2021 MA Situated Design, Guest Lecturer, Master Institute of Visual Cultures, Den Bosch, NL
2018 MA Fine Art, Guest Lecturer, Prague City University, Prague, CZ
2018 BA Fine Art, Guest Lecturer, Middlesex University, London, UK
Education
2018-20 MA Artistic Research, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL [Distinction]
2014-17 BA Fine Art, Middlesex University, London, UK [First Class Hons]
Screenings
2023 The Words Create Images, Biennale Internationale de Casablanca, Casablanca, MA
Videorama, Werkleitz, Halle, DE
Ekrani I Artit, Arthouse, Shkodra, AL
Ethnografilm Paris, Journal of Video Ethnography, Paris, FR
2022 Vinilonga Int. Short Film Festival, Espacio Simona, Buenos Aires, AR
Kampvuur, New Noardic Wave, Leeuwarden, NL
2021 School of Waters, Mediterranea Biennial, San Marino, SM
School of Waters, San Serriffe, Amsterdam, NL
Non-Syntax Experimental Image Festival, touring Tokyo, Kyoto & Fukuoka, JP
MAF Young Masters, Media Art Friesland, Leeuwarden, NL
Academy Young: School of Waters, Museo Arte Gallarate, Varese, IT
Go straight until you find the sea, K-Gold Temporary Gallery, Lesvos, GR
2020 Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Genova, ACEC, Genova, IT
All at Sea, Art Walk Portobello , Edinburgh, SCO
Idriba Festival, Vertov Project, Genoa, IT
2019 Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin, Forum des Images & HKW, FR & DE
Prague Short Film Festival, MFF Karlovy Vary, Prague, CZ
Cairo Video Festival, Medrag, Cairo, EGY
B.EAST International Film Festival, Visegrad Film, Porto, PT
Centrale Festival, Malatesta Fortress, Fano, IT
The Others Art Fair, Ospedale Militare A. Riberi, Torino, IT
Publications & Appearances
“A Cold Metal World Floating”, Tasarowat, 12/2021 [NL]
“Ras la Apariencia de la Soberanía: Ensayos….de Jacques Derrida”, Editorial Cara Parens, 10/2021 [GT]
“Walk until you find the Sea”, Lifo Magazine, 5/2021 [GR]
“Eindexamens 2020”, Metropolis M, 10/2020 [NL]
“7 Films to Watch Right Now”, Paralaxi Magazine, 8/2020 [GR]
“The Artists representing Albania”, ObserverKult, 05/2020 [AL]
Grants & Awards
2023 Digital Culture, Stimuleringsfonds, Amsterdam, NL [awarded for the project ‘The Phantom Frost’]
2023 PRO Onderzoek, Stroom Den Haag, The Hague, NL [awarded for the project ‘The Phantom Frost’]
2021 MAF Audience Award, Media Art Friesland, Leeuwarden, NL [awarded for the project ‘Anina’]
2021 C/O Berlin Talent Award, C/O Berlin, Berlin, DE [Nominee]
2020 MAR Artistic Research Prize, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Den Haag, NL [Shortlisted]
2019 NEON Scholarship, NEON Foundation, Athens, GR [awarded for the project ‘Pave Paradise’]
2018 Swedenborg Prize, Swedenborg Society, London, UK [awarded by Susan Hiller for the project ‘Anina’]
2017 John Walker Prize, Middlesex University, London, UK [awarded for outstanding Academic Achievement]
Broadcast
2019-20 Greek National Broadcast Corporation, Athens, GR
Artist Associations
2018 New Contemporaries, Bloomberg Philanthropies, London, UK
Collections
2021 Argos Collection, Argos Centre of Audiovisual Arts, Brussels, BE
2017 British Films Directory, British Film Council, London, UK
2016 LCF Special Collections, London College of Fashion, London, UK
2018 Bloomberg New Contemporaries, touring Liverpool Biennial, South London Gallery, UK
Once in Europa, Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
IndieLisboa International Film Festival, Culturgest, Lisbon, PT
Report - Notes from Reality, European Media Art Festival, Osnabruck, DE
Athens Avant Garde Film Festival, Greek Film Archive, Athens, GR
Istanbul International Experimental Film Festival, Beyoglu Yesilcam, Istanbul, TU
Swedenborg Film Festival, Swedenborg Society , London, UK
Visions in the Nunnery, Nunnery Gallery, London, UK
Modern Body Festival, The Gray Space in The Middle, Den Haag, NL
OGA Video Art, Ospizio Giovani Artisti, Rome, IT
2017 Chicago International Arthouse Film Festival, G. Siskel Film Centre, Chicago, US
Cinalfama Lisbon International Film Festival, Fama de Alfama, Lisbon, PT
Ephemere Series, Studio Loos, Den Haag, NL
Free Range, The Old Truman Brewery, London, UK
Watch This Space, Beaconsfield Gallery, London, UK
2016 Forward, Islington Arts Factory, London, UK
“Decentralization, Representation and Potentiality”, Mada Masr, 10/2019 [EGY]
“Places traveled, Projects in the Marche”, Mappe 14, 7/2019 [IT]
“Conceptual Photography in Fano”, Fotografare Magazine, 7/2019 [IT]
“The Prague Shorts culminates…”, Czech Radio’s Artcafe Podcast, 1/2019 [CZ]
“Anina by Alcaeus Spyrou”, Ferocious Urbanites, 1/2019 [GR]
“Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2018 review”, Art Exchange, 4/2019 [EN]
“Winter Collection”, Exibart, 12/2018 [IT]