Exhibition “Greek Art from 1950 until Today” – Cyprus

Greek Art from 1950 until Today

Following the successful presentation of significant works from the Art Collection in the exhibition “The Alpha Bank Collection. Paintings-Prints-Sculptures” held at the Benaki Museum in 2005 and the exhibition “Greek Art from 1920 until Today” held at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki in 2006, the decision was made to organise an exhibition in Cyprus.

The exhibition sheds a more contemporary look on modern Greek art. It focuses on pieces created from 1950 onwards.

The exhibits

The exhibition includes a significant number of works by Greek artists, created post-1950: paintings, sculptures, assemblages, sketches and prints. These exhibits give a clear account of the evolution of modern Greek art in the second half of the 20th century.

The starting point is the art of the post-war era, which was influenced by the great financial and social turmoil of the period.

In terms of its theme, the exhibition is structured around the categories of the works of art that are presented.

Notable artists

• Painting: The painter Jannis Spyropoulos is featured, one of the most important representatives of abstraction in Greece. The turn towards modern art becomes more apparent with Yannis Gaitis, Nikos Kessanlis and Vlassis Caniaris. Important paintings by Chronis Botsoglou, George Vakirtzis and Alkis Pierrakos are also presented.
• Assemblages: The exhibition focuses on artists who experimented with new materials and media. Pieces by Jason Molfesis, Voula Masoura, Daphne Costopoulos, Opy Zouni, etc. are presented.
• Printmaking: The exhibition encapsulates the evolution of printmaking, as shaped by Jean Kefallinos and the students from his workshop.

Exhibition catalogue

A catalogue titled The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1950 until Today accompanies the exhibition. The publication is available in Greek and English, and includes rich photographic material. It was edited by Irene Orati.