On 14 September, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, inaugurated the Gaitis-Simosi Museum in Ios, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni.

The Museum is dedicated to the work of the painter Yannis Gaitis and the sculptress Gavriella Simosi, with the aim of presenting, highlighting and promoting the multifaceted artistic creation of the two artists, on a national and international level.

As the Minister stressed, the “Gaitis-Simosi Museum today represents a successful example of effective cultural decentralisation, an example that deserves to become a model. Cultural decentralisation and the dissemination of culture is included in the public policies of both the Region and the Ministry and is a priority. It is, however, an extremely fortunate circumstance when these policies are adopted, supported and ultimately expressed and sustained by the combined harmonious action of private individuals and local communities. The abstract and impersonal little people of Gaitis, the dominant white in the sculptural art of Simossi, the curved lines of the architecture of the building, the white marble of the floor and the plinths of the compositions recall the forms of the idols, an expression of a particular culture that developed here, thanks also to the peculiar geomorphological and climatic conditions: ‘the location, size, diversity and peculiar characteristics of this unique Aegean Polynesia’.

Recently, conservation work was carried out with the support of the Municipality of Ios and funding from the South Aegean Special Purpose Development Programme.The architectural design was carried out by the architectural couple, Jacques Charrat and Loretta Gaiti, who also supervised the museological study. The permanent exhibition unfolds in 2 main buildings. In the “Gaiti Building”, works from the artist’s earlier period of creation are on display, as well as paintings, installations and constructions around the iconic “little people” that majestically dominate the entire space. The “Simosi Building” hosts the artist’s sculptures, dominated by white, as well as collages with strong surrealist elements.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs responsible for Sports Yannis Vroutsis, the Deputy Minister of Health Irini Agapidaki, the MPs of Cyclades, Katerina Monogyiou and Markos Kafouros, the Regional Governor of South Aegean George Hadjimarkos, the Mayor of Ios Gkikas Gkikas.