From Alimos with a Vision

I have written before about the new mayor in Alimos, about the way he is tansforming our neglected suburb into a well-kept, clean area where a sense of community is being developed and where activities for the residents abound.  Since my last post which was less than a year ago, the council deficit has been paid off in full; a large number of our roads are being re-tarmacked; LED street lighting is replacing the old system; a series of seminars on domestic violence has been set up with the aim of raising awareness of the issue and helping those in need. 

He is also into art in a big way: I have just been to the second temporary exhibition of the Alimos Cultural Centre, which is what this post is about. Furthermore, five public sculptures have been purchased and placed in strategic places; 35 works of art have been purchased; the local cinema and theatre are thriving.

It's an exciting time for residents and I, for one, cannot wait to see how things develop further.

From Alimos with a Vision, at Alimos Cultural Centre.

Like the last one, this exhibition comprises works from the 20th century. There is a catalogue that accompanies the exhibition which has been distributed to local schools and various organisations and individuals. The catalogue is also for sale at the gallery for 5 euros and all the proceeds will go to the local children's home. In his introduction the mayor explains that his aim is not only to solve the chronic infrastructural problems that have plagued our area for years, but also to improve the quality of life of its citizens, which includes the promotion of the arts, since culture is not a luxury but a deep intellectual and spiritual need, so that 'our Alimos has a vision of open horizons and culture'.

A group of school children were being guided through the exhibition when we visited.

Kostas Tsoclis, Untitled, 1970 (mixed media on wood)

Thanos Tsigkos, Boats, 1950-60

Antonis Malliarakis, Latin Elements, 1970, (oil on canvas)

Spiros Papaloukas, 

Epaminondas Papadopoulos (Nonda)

Diamantis Diamantopoulos, from the series Machines and Sun, (oil on canvas)

Yannis Tsarouhis, Theatre Masks, 1980, (mixed media)

Giorgos Iakovides

Giorgos Kosmadopoulos, Boats

Giorgos Kosmadopoulos, Mykonos, (oil on canvas)

Perikles Pantazis, Beach, the North Sea, (oil on canvas)

Giorgos Iakovides, Adolescence, (oil on canvas)

Konstantinos Parthenis, Still Life with Japanese Vase, (oil on canvas)

Konstantinos Parthenis, Still Life with Violin, (oil on canvas)

Spiros Vasileiou, Athens, Acropolis, 1971, (acrylic on canvas)

Nikos Hakjikyriakos-Ghikas, The Artist's Studio, 1988, (acrylic on canvas)

Vassilis Marros-Mavratzas, Figures in a Forest

Vassilis Marros-Mavratzas, Abstract Landscape III, (oil on canvas)

Alekos Fasianos, Looking in the Mirror, 1980, (oil on canvas)

Dimitris Mytaras,

Nikos Kessanlis, Phantasmagoria, 1986, (photographic reproduction on canvas)

Yannis Moralis, Erotic, 1980, (oil on canvas)

Nikolaos Gyzis, Family Scene, (oil on canvas)

Vlassis Kaniaris, Tribute to the Dead of Marcinelle, 1958, (oil on canvas)

By now, each student was giving a small talk on their favourite painting. It was a pleasure watching them and listening.