This exhibition covered the work of eleven Greek artists who were influenced by the major events of the 20th century: WWII, the occupation of Greece by the Germans and the famine that ensued; the Civil War that followed the end of the war, and how it divided the nation; finally the seven years of the military dictatorship that brought so much suffering to the Greek people.
In the exhibition we were shown how each artist's work developed and changed as they matured and how some moved on to abstraction. I will cover the work of one artist in each post.
Tassos' work is militant art at its best. His engravings are characterised by the tender rendering of ordinary people, their toil and pain. Until the end of his life he remained committed to the struggle for a new society, just, democratic and socialist. He was politically affiliated to the Communist Party. During the occupation of Greece by the Germans he became a member of the United Panhellenic Organisation of Youth, and then the National liberation Front. During the 7-year military dictatorship if in Greece he self-exiled.
The inspiration for his work were the struggles of the people, the natural beauties of Greece and the everyday life of common people. 'I take all inspiration and impulse from the people and their struggles', he characteristically said.
Every Morning, 1932, (woodcut)
Partisans, 1944, (woodcut on paper)
Civil War. The Women. The Dead. The Men. 1961. (woodcut on paper)
Apologies for the reflection. I tried ever so hard.
The Ladies of the Rebetika songs - The Lady of Kokkinia, 1970, (woodcut on paper)
The Organ Player, 1946, (woodcut)
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