In the context of the Greek Presidency of the United Nations Security Council in May 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations and the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum, presented an exhibition entitled Thalatta, which was hosted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 20 to 30 May 2025.

Yannis Gaitis (1923-1984)
Sirens – Odysseus, 1980
Oil on canvas, 150.3 x 195.7 cm
National Gallery of Greece and Alexandros Soutsos Museum
inv. no 5794

The sea is a timeless source of inspiration, an open horizon where light, water and time interact. In both ancient and modern times, man’s relationship with the sea has been an important field of interest for the arts and letters. In Homer’s Odyssey, one of the most important works of ancient Greek literature, the sea becomes the canvas on which the poet weaves the adventure of human life, the journey back home, the benefits of travel, knowledge and experience. Feeding the creative imagination of artists throughout time, the sea is represented as a natural landscape, a conceptual perspective, an open horizon and an axis for the movement of people, products and ideas.

Thanassis Stefopoulos (1928-2012)
Untitled, 1974
Oil on canvas, 122 x 120 cm
Donated by the artist
National Gallery of Greece and Alexandros Soutsos Museum
inv. no 5506

The sea has an important relationship with foreign policy and cultural diplomacy, as it is not only a geographical and economic resource, but also a cultural and strategic tool in international relations. It unites people, peoples and cultures, fosters communication, the circulation of ideas, the exchange of products and shapes strategic, economic and cultural aspects affecting international relations, transnational cooperation, the protection and promotion of cultural heritage. The indelible link between the Greeks and the sea is visible in every area of culture.
The works presented in the exhibition Thalatta reflect the multidimensional relationship of man with the sea. From geometric depictions of the harbour to abstract compositions of light on water, from the primordial sense of the sea as a myth to the contemporary interpretation of it as an experiential experience, each work becomes a watery mirror reflecting the artist’s personal vision. The color palette ranges from realistic depiction to complete abstraction, rendering the sea sometimes as a place and sometimes as a sensation.

Kostas Grammatopoulos (1916-2003)
Aegean XI, 1971
Colour woodcut, 90 x 61,5 cm
Donated by the Ministry of Culture and Science
National Gallery of Greece and Alexandros Soutsos Museum
inv. no 4378

The artistic depiction of the seascape reflects, of course, the key role of shipping in international trade and the responsibility of the international community to ensure its free operation.

Kostas Tsoclis (1930)
Seascape, 1979
Oil on canvas and wood, 80.7 x 103 cm
National Gallery of Greece and Alexandros Soutsos Museum
inv. no 5897

The exhibition consists of the works of:
Agenor Asteriadis, Yannis Gaitis, Kostas Grammatopoulos, Theodoros Stamos, Thanassis Stefopoulos, Mary Schina, Panagiotis Tetsis, Kostas Tsoclis, Alekos Fassianos, Maria Filopoulou, Nikos Hadjikiriakos-Ghika.