DESTE
DESTE ( Greek ΔΕΣΤΕ , for: looks) is an art foundation that was founded by the Cypriot art collector Dakis Joannou in 1983, even before he started collecting art himself. It is based in Nea Ionia near Athens . A branch is the former slaughterhouse on the island of Hydra .
In May 1998, the foundation opened a museum for contemporary art in the Neo Psychico district of Athens in a former paper mill that was converted by New York architect Christian Hubert. The Deste Prize has been awarded every two years since 1999. In 2004 the foundation organized the major art exhibition monument to now as part of the cultural program of the Olympic Games. By the end of 2009, 600 artists had been sponsored or their works exhibited. In addition to the exhibition activities, the foundation also maintains an extensive archive on Greek artists and a specialist library.
Together with Maurizio Cattelan, the foundation publishes the photo magazine Toiletpaper .