Nefeli Papadimouli ‘ANAMESA’
Curator: Eva Wittocx
20 November 2026 – 9 May 2027
M has followed Nefeli Papadimouli’s work for several years, first collaborating with her during the Playground festival in 2021. Five years later, the artist returns with ‘ANAMESA’, her first solo exhibition in Belgium. At M, Papadimouli is showing recent works in various media alongside new textile sculptures. She has also created a new performance especially for the exhibition.
With a background in architecture and visual art, Nefeli Papadimouli (b. 1988, Athens; lives and works in Paris) has developed a multifaceted practice that brings together sculpture, installation, textiles, video and performance. Inspired by phenomenology, feminism and contemporary political theory, she explores how distance, proximity and movement shape processes of coexistence, conflict, negotiation and interdependence.
A strong sculptural visual language characterizes Papadimouli’s work, in which she carefully interweaves materials, forms and the suggestion of the human body. Monumental textile sculptures and installations evoke bodies whilst simultaneously functioning as sculpture, shelter, support, costume and extension of the body.
ANAMESA
The exhibition is entitled ‘Anamesa’, which is Greek for ‘between’ or ‘in the middle’. The title refers to a state of being between different positions: between the body and architecture, between the individual and society, between people and their environment.
Papadimouli explores how people, objects and the environment constantly influence and transform one another. In this sense, most of her works have multiple phases or states and exist somewhere between the finished and the unfinished, the whole and the fragmented, and autonomous sculpture and performative object.
The exhibition at M features, amongst other things, the video installation ‘Être forêts’ (2021) from the collection of Frac Grand-Large in Dunkirk; ‘Idiopolis’ (2024), a monumental installation that fills an entire gallery, from the collection of Frac-Artothèque in Nouvelle-Aquitaine; and a selection of drawings and sculptures.
In addition, Papadimouli is creating new work for the exhibition, building on her recently begun series of textile sculptures entitled ‘Folders’ (2026).
‘Folders’ is an ever-evolving body of work comprising wearable sculptures, hand-painted textiles and performance that explores the fragmented human form. Papadimouli draws on the organic formal language of Art Nouveau to develop a language of abstract geometric motifs and patterns. The work combines a distinctive, recognisable visual language with reflections on contemporary social challenges – such as the impact of crisis, transience and diverse forms of recovery – that are both subtle and pertinent.
Performance during Playground
The exhibition opens alongside the Playground performance festival. On the opening night, Thursday 19 November, Nefeli Papadimouli’s new performance ‘Always more than one’ will premiere. The work, which draws on the philosophy of Erin Manning, explores the merging of the individual body into a collective, relational whole.
The exhibition opens alongside the Playground performance festival. On the opening night, Thursday 19 November, Nefeli Papadimouli’s new performance ‘Always more than one’ will premiere. The work, which draws on the philosophy of Erin Manning, explores the merging of the individual body into a collective, relational whole.
Biography
Nefeli Papadimouli (b. 1988, Athens) lives and works in Paris and Athens. She graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and obtained a Master’s degree in Fine Art from the École Nationale Supérieure de Beaux-Arts de Paris.
Her work has been exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions, including at Le Grand Café and Le Radôme, Saint-Nazaire (2026); THE PILL, Paris (2026); Galerie du Regard – Résidence Blason, Le Havre (2025); and École d’Art & La Barcarolle, National Theatre, Saint-Omer (2024). In 2021, Papadimouli created ‘Skinscapes’, a sculpture and performance commissioned by M Leuven for the Playground Festival. The work subsequently travelled to various locations around the world.
Papadimouli has also created performances for international institutions and participated in numerous group exhibitions, including at Frac Artothèque Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Limoges (2026); Romero Paprocki, Milan (2026); Fondation Hermès, Tokyo (2025); New Museum × Deste Foundation in the Benaki Museum, Athens (2025); Louvre-Lens (2025); the 17th Biennale de Lyon (2024); and the Asian Art Biennial at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (2024). Her works are held in public and private collections.
Further information
During Playground
The new works from Papadimouli’s solo exhibition ‘ANAMESA’ at M will be activated during Playground under the title ‘Always more than one’:
- Thurs. 19 Nov — 19:00–21:00
- Fri. 20 Nov — 13:00–15:00 & 16:00–18:00
- Sat. 21 Nov — 1.00 pm–3.00 pm & 4.00 pm–6.00 pm
- Sun. 22 Nov — 13:00–15:00 & 16:00–18:00
During Playground, Papadimouli will also be in conversation with Keren Detton, director of FRAC Grand Large in Dunkirk, which has supported her practice for several years and has acquired her works for its collection.
‘Dialogue’ – A conversation with Keren Detton | 20 mins
- Fri. 20 Nov — 15:00–15:20
- Language: English
- in M's Forum
Visual material
Now at M
