Late last year saw the publication of a book edited by Lisa Alexander which gathered together writings by artists involed in her project Love Letters to a (Post)Europe programme that took place at Bios, Athens (2015).

As I was unable to travel to Athens at the time, Lisa suggested that my work be performed by Athens based artist and performer Dimou Vassilik, who did so with a brilliant intensity. What we could not have foreseen was that Vasilliki would become terminally ill, she died in early 2018.

Vasilliki had realised the work in the 15 minutes duration that Lisa had stipulated for the work, and then came to support and witness me as I remade the work, again in Athens, over the duration of 10 hours for the Marina Abramovic, curated MAI, AS ONE at the Benaki Museum.

We had not met before, and yet within the short time frame of my visit to Athens I felt the kinship of a great artist and a firm ally who lavished me with company, flowers, critical dialogue and emotional buoyancy. I was desperately sad to learn of her illness and passing. In Athens we unpicked the mechanics of the work, and it’s political import within a workshop and a public discussion.

Subsequently within the book Lisa made a space for Vasiliki and my voice by including a series of emails drawn from the space of our association and collaboration. I am indebted to Lisa for affording this opportunity and for documenting it so tenderly in this publication.

Other vital contriutions include: Kate Adams, Demosthenes Agrafiotis, Brian Catling & David Tolley, cris cheek, Robin Deacon, Tim Etchells, Alec Finlay, Matthew Goulish, Guy Harries, Steven C Harvey, Catherine Hoffmann, Wendy Houstoun, Mikhail Karikis, Brian Lobel, Claire MacDonald, Georgios Makkas, Ivana Müller, Mariela Nestora, Kira O’Reilly, Florence Peake, Erica Scourti, Maria Sideri, Anna Sherbany, Jungmin Song, Yoko Tawada, Nikki Tomlinson, a collaborative text by Lisa Alexander and Mary Paterson, and an essay by Claire MacDonald.