Participation in the exhibition “a man of many facets”

The Alpha Bank Archives and Collections are participating in the exhibition “a man of many facets: A celebration of the life of Yannis Costopoulos” with:

• 22 items from the Alpha Bank Historical Archives on display in the “Banker” section of the exhibition.
• 17 coins from the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection, on display in the “Love for ancient coins” section of the exhibition.
• 5 pieces from the Alpha Bank Art Collection, on display in the “Banker” section of the exhibition.

Theme and aim

The exhibition “a man of many facets: A celebration of the life of Yannis Costopoulos” focuses on Yannis Costopoulos’ contribution to the banking sector and beyond. It aims to showcase his multifaceted personality and his diverse activities.

Through the exhibition, the J.F. Costopoulos Foundation pays tribute to its Chairman from 1984 to 2019 and Alpha Bank from 1984 to 2014, on the occasion of the 3-year anniversary since his death.

“a man of many facets”

The exhibition title (andra polytropon in Greek) alludes to the opening line of Homer’s Odyssey, but also Yannis Costopoulos’ love for the sea and his bold exploration of uncharted territories. A mighty yachtsman, Yannis Costopoulos was inspired by the Homeric epic poems, especially Odysseus’ travels.

The exhibition sections

The exhibition is structured in 5 sections:

1. Preamble – A chronology of his life and work in each field. It comes with screenings of 8 excerpts from interviews by people who had known him.
2. Banker – Historical items, works of art and architectural models of Alpha Bank buildings showcase Yannis Costopoulos’ pioneering spirit and the choices that shaped the image of an innovative bank.
3. Culture and Society – Yannis Costopoulos’ contribution to Greek culture and society through items and works of art from the J.F. Costopoulos Foundation collection. The exhibits highlight his contribution to the establishment of the J.F. Costopoulos Foundation (1979), archaeological excavations, the promotion of Byzantine civilisation through international exhibitions, the help he extended to emerging artists, and his hands-on support to society, as exemplified by the kindergarten and nursery school in Kalamata (1994) and the formation of the Society of the Friends of the National Garden (2005).
4. Love for ancient coinage – Coins from the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection and the stories behind them demonstrate Yannis Costopoulos’ passion for numismatics.
5. Yachtsman – Exhibits and photographs from yachting races where Yannis Costopoulos participated. His references to Homer and Odysseus’ travels are also showcased.

A gallery with a special meaning

The exhibition is hosted in the Benaki Museum Spyridon and Eurydice Costopoulos Gallery, named after Yannis Costopoulos’ parents. This is how the Benaki Museum paid tribute to Yannis Costopoulos in 2000 for his generosity and support. Yannis Costopoulos served as Member and Vice Chairman of the Museum’s Board of Trustees for many years.

Contributors

The museological design is by Erato Koutsoudaki.

Composer Thodoris Oikonomou wrote a piece especially for the exhibition, which discreetly accompanies the “Yachtsman” section, to underscore Yannis Costopoulos’ love for the sea.

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual (Greek/English) catalogue. It includes texts by: Petros Themelis, Costas Costis, Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, Dimitra Tsangari, Maria Vassilaki, Irene Orati, Katerina Koskina, Hector Verykios, Daphne Costopoulos.