A Place Called Space: November 2021

Theodoros Papayiannis, Facing One's History, at Alimos Art Gallery.

Theodoros Papayiannis was born in Eliniko, Ioannina, Greece, in 1942. He studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts and the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Appliques et des Metiers d'Art in Paris. He subsequently organised various sculpture symposiums in various cities in Greece and Cyprus, where large sculptures were created in public spaces. In 2006 he won an international sculpture competition sponsored by the City of Chicago for his sculpture 'the Runners' which was installed at the O'Hare International Airport.

After retiring in 2009 he founded the Theodoros Papayiannis Museum of Contemporary Art in his home town of Elliniko. Every summer students and sculptors are invited to the museum to create sculptures which are placed on the 5 km route from the village to the Monastery of Tsouka.

Papayiannis uses a variety of materials in his work: stone, marble, bronze, wood, steel terracotta, but also synthetic materials and secondary objects.

His work can be grouped into three categories: 1. Tectonic sculptures, groups of figures carved on marble and stone that preserve the memory of the rectangle shapes from which they originated. 2. Sculptures that are inspired by organic forms: stones and pebbles where the sculptor utilises their random shape in order to draw out, with minor but vital interventions, human figures with special expressiveness. 3. Small sculptures, usually made of clay, that are reminiscent of the post-Minoan and Mycenaean periods.

It is the sculptures of this third category that are presented in this exhibition. The masks are very expressive, and the small sculptures are exquisite. It is quite a coup to exhibit the work of such prolific, creative and talented artist in a small regional gallery, and we were very grateful to have had the opportunity to see his work.

This is a small, regional gallery, basic, no pretense. The space is still set up as it was on the day of the launch of the exhibition.

Looking at some of the individual pieces

There is a producers' market in our area once a month, two venues, each venue alternating very other month. One venue is near where we live, but the other one, the one described in this post, is quite far but walkable - just about.

Near our apartment is the site for yet another apartment building to be built. They started the demolition in July, but then, work stopped completely because they found antiquities as they were digging the foundations. Archaeologists are busy at work and the digger moves the earth they have excavated around. It's anyone's guess when work will resume, or, what they will unearth.

Soon after we reached the tiny little park where the outdoor exercise equipment is located. We used to use this outdoor gym quite a lot last year, but have not done so this year.

Beyond the outdoor gym is the dry river bed which is located behind these bamboo bushes. The road is fairly quiet, so it's a nice walk

very pleasant because of the bushes and trees on either side of the river.

This modernist house is one of my favourites in the area. Before they planted the bamboo bushes to give them privacy, you could see the walls of glass on both floors which led to large verandas

I don't recognise some of the bushes and trees that grow on the side of the river,

but some are familiar, like the huge eucalyptus trees in this photograph.

A mural

by the bridge

a shrine

the Seville orange trees are bursting with fruit

it's a long walk but very pleasant

we had reached the pharmaceutical factory

I tried to gain access a few years ago to have a look at the sculpture of an artist whose work I like, but they would not let me in.

Lots of oleanders by the side of the river.

We had reached the small park which is at the end of this road

at the other end of the park is a pedestrianised road - only the cars of residents are allowed here.

It's a short-cut, so we continued on our way

A children's play area

another outdoor gym - there are lots in our area

lots of chickens and a cockerel in a garden

they all came up to us hoping for some food, I guess

it's very quiet here, it must be lovely for the residents

Suddenly we turned right and a complete change of scene: this is Ionias Avenue, a busy thoroughfare, but not that busy on a Sunday.

A flower shop

and then the stadium: there are always a few spectators sitting on the stalls, they must be parents watching their children train.

Street art on the wall of the stadium

Anonymous

Picasso

This tree lined avenue used to be the entrance to the estate of the 'lord of the manor' of our area in olden times

another flower shop.

We had reached the municipal art gallery, the second reason for this walk. We went in and saw a wonderful exhibition of ceramic sculptures and then went on our way.

Almost immediately after leaving the gallery we came upon this man who was grilling souvlakia. I thought they were for sale, even though it was an odd place for doing this. I said that we did not want to buy anything but could I take his photograph. He said to go ahead, and then we got chatting. He was not selling souvlakia at all, but was preparing his lunch. Apparently he lives in the building behind him, and does this most lunchtimes. And, why not, I thought.