“The creative path that lasted for decades in the 20th century, the parallel path, but above all the common ground between two unique artists, Sikeliotis and Tassos, are highlighted in a special combined way in the exhibition we are hosting at Teloglion”, said Alexandra Goulaki – Voutyra, General Director of the Teloglion Foundation of Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

During a press conference, she noted the milestones of Greek history in the more than 200 paintings, engravings and drawings by George Sikeliotis and Tassos (Alevis) that are included in the exhibition. He underlined their parallel artistic creation, through which they highlighted issues related, for example, to the Occupation, the Civil War, the Dictatorship, the period of the Post-coup, their relationship with rebetiko, as well as their special ties with Thessaloniki.

The exhibition is entitled “Sikeliotis-Tassos. A friendship with common roots” and is a co-organization with the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum and the Antonios E. Komnenos Foundation, while it is under the auspices of the H.E. the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who will inaugurate it on Sunday 27 October, at 7 pm, and is part of the 59th Dimitria of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.

The Director General of the Foundation stressed that “the works come from museums, foundations, collectors and the collections of the Teloglion Foundation, which fills us with satisfaction, since many of them are exhibited for the first time, while thanks are due to the Foundation “Antonios E. Komnenos” for supporting the exhibition. In summary, I would say that they stand out: The Cultivation of Tobacco (12.40 m. ) by Tassos and Loukia Maggioros, the four Archonesses of Tassos’ rebetiko songs, Sikeliotis’ Archaic Dances for the New Theatre (for the first time), a latern with paintings by Sikeliotis and his works related to rebetiko, Tassos’ gouache series for AGET-Heracles with themes of Occupation shortly before his death. It is worth mentioning that the rich archival material on the two artists and their era highlights lesser known dimensions of their art, such as their significant presence in Thessaloniki”.

The President of the Board of Directors of the Teloglion, Professor of the Polytechnic School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Anestis Kalfas, underlined the role that the Teloglion has been playing for years in culture with important exhibitions. As he said, “Teloglion spreads art in a unique way through exhibitions and important collaborations, both within Greece and abroad”. Mr. Kalfas pointed out “the extroversion that the Foundation has and this”, as he said, “we will continue it in the next period”.

The Deputy Mayor of Culture, Tourism Development and Intermunicipal Cooperation of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Vassilis Gakis, praised the role of Teloglion in highlighting the works of Sikeliotis and Tasos in the new exhibition, which is part of the 59th Dimitria. Mr Gakis spoke of “the close cooperation between the Teloglion and the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the current period of… engravings for the city, since we host in Dimitria the engravings created by Vasso Katraki in “Villa Bianca” and now, among the other works of the exhibition in Teloglion, the engravings of Sikeliotis and Tassos are added”. The Deputy Mayor of Culture spoke about the special emotion he feels seeing the prints of the new exhibition, since, as he “revealed”, copies of them were kept by the student at home who took care of him in his childhood, something he said he has never forgotten.

The museologist and Coordinator of the Cultural Programmes of the Foundation “Antonios E. Komnenos”, Iphigenia Bodzaki, stressed that “it is extremely honourable that the Foundation participates in the exhibition at Teloglion, which highlights the work of the two artists in an amazing way”, while she noted that it is the “third time we are collaborating and the result is always excellent”.

The very interesting “conversations” of Sikeliotis and Tassos were referred to by the curator of the exhibition, Dr. Miguel Fernandez Belmont, Art History, stressing that “through their amazing works the history of Greece from the Occupation to the Post-coup period passes through, and this is what we tried to capture in a combined way in the exhibition”.

Opening: Sunday 27 October at 19:00

Duration: 27 October 2024 – 26 January 2025