Following upon the exhibition with works by Greek and Chinese artists held in Beijing in August, 2008 as part of the Cultural Year of Greece in China (Ministry of Culture) on the occasion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the International Olympic Truce Centre presents the works of the twenty-nine (29) Greek artists who took part in the Beijing show at the Athens Concert Hall, from 5 to 12 March, 2009.
The painting exhibition held at the Greek House in Beijing was called From Ancient Olympia to Beijing: Greek and Chinese artists discuss truce, fair play, war and peace. The twenty-nine (29) Greek artists were selected by the eminent art historian Mr. Chrysanthos Christou, member of the Athens Academy, who wrote all the texts in the accompanying catalogue. On the Chinese side, the distinguished curator Xin Dong Cheng selected nine (9) prominent Chinese artists and wrote the relevant texts for the catalogue.
The exhibition comprised artworks with subjects inspired by peace, truce and sport. Its aim was to demonstrate the course from Greece, cradle of the Olympic Games and host of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, to China, where the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games were held. Two great ancient civilisations engaged in dialogue about sport, truce and peace through the works of their contemporary painters and showed how some universal values are perceived.
The International Olympic Truce Centre, wishing to give to the Greek art-loving public the opportunity to see the works of the twenty-nine Greek artists in the Beijing show, decided to organise this exhibition in Athens. It is worth noting that many of the works were created specifically for the two exhibitions.
The Greek artists in the Beijing exhibition are all living practitioners, apart from the recently deceased Opy Zouni, and were all born after 1922. Some of the painters have a complete oeuvre behind them, some are continuing their quests and others have already presented some characteristic examples of their work. It goes without saying that all of them, older and younger alike, continue to add to their work and enrich their styles. Of course, the exhibition could not include all artists with an important oeuvre, and the catalogue presents in chronological order only some of the most typical efforts of the participants. One of the selection criteria was that the exhibition ought to include artists from all trends or at least from the most typical and fertile directions. Among other things, such artists can readily demonstrate that Greek art is fully in tune with the international art scene.
Participating artists (in alphabetical order): Ch. Botsoglou, D. Chiotopoulos, V. Dimitreas, A. Droungas, A. Ghinis, D. Gounaridis, P. Gravalos, Y. Ioannou, S. Karavouzis, Ch. Karas, T. Katsoulidis, K. Katzourakis, M. Katzourakis, A. Kilessopoulos, D. Kokkinidis, Y. Kottis, E. Kouzounis, V. Kyriaki, Th. Manolidis, K. Mortarakos, D. Mytaras, C. Paniaras, Th. Pantaleon, R. Papaspyrou, Y. Psychopedis, D. Sevastakis, S. Sorongas, V. Xenou, O. Zouni.
The exhibition space is kindly provided by the Athens Concert Hall.
The exhibition was designed by the architect Ms. Sonia Haralambidou, and the catalogue was published by ADAM Publications.
Athens Concert Hall, New Exhibition Space
Vas. Sofias Ave. & Kokkali St, Athens
Official opening: Thursday, 5 March 2009, 20:00
Duration of the exhibition: 6 - 12 March 2009
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00
Contact:
International Olympic Truce Centre
Τ: 210 3611 023 F: 210 3611 024
www.olympictruce.org
maria panayides artproductions
Τ: 210 6912 331, 6913 943 F: 210 6980 673
E: panayides@ath.forthnet.gr
more links:
- Αυτό το δελτίο τύπου στα Ελληνικά
- Exhibition Leaflet