Participation in the exhibition “All here! 50 years of Democracy”

The Alpha Bank Art Collection is participating in the exhibition “All here! 50 years of Democracy” with 3 works of art by renowned Greek printmaker A. Tassos:

1. Slave No 1, 1967, woodcut, 98.5 x 32.5 cm
2. Slave No 2, 1967, woodcut, 99 x 33.5 cm
3. Slave No 3, 1967, woodcut, 99 x 31.5 cm

The works belong to a series of woodcuts created by A. Tassos during 1967-1974. They are allegorical compositions that capture pain and heroism, resistance and opposition. They are still imposing to this day in their epic, monumental style.

The works were exhibited for the first time at the National Gallery in 1975, following the restoration of democracy.

The artists resist

The exhibition includes works created by 4 renowned Greek artists of the post-war era:

• Vlassis Caniaris
• Dimitris Alithinos
• Vaso Katraki
• A. Tassos

All the exhibits were featured in exhibitions during the junta period or shortly after. They symbolise resistance and opposition, hope and democracy.

The freeing art

Following the imposition of dictatorship on 21.04.1967, many artists decided not to participate in any cultural events. This was their way of expressing their opposition to the junta regime and of denying its potential legitimisation.

Some artists became active members of anti-dictatorial organisations, other fled the country, while others were arrested and exiled. The actions of Vlassis Caniaris, Dimitris Alithinos, Vaso Katraki and A. Tassos stood out.

When abstention seemed to be getting nowhere, the artists regrouped and reconsidered their stance. They created works with an anti-dictatorial overtone and presented them in exhibitions of that era or shortly after the restoration of democracy.

Patronage, curator, publication

The exhibition is held under the patronage of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

It is curated by Yannis Bolis, Art Historian and Head of the Department of Contemporary Sculpture, MOMus-Museum Alex Mylona.

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual catalogue with texts by historians, art historians and visual artists.

His life in a nutshell

A. Tassos (Anastasios Alevizos, 1914-1985) was born in Lefkochora, Messinia.

He studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts (1930-1939):

• Painting, under Thomas Thomopoulos, Umberto Argyros and Konstantinos Parthenis.
• Engraving, under Jean Kefalinos, as one of his first students.

During the German Occupation of Greece he was a member of the Artists’ National Liberation Front. He designed posters and participated in the illustration of resistance albums.

Besides engraving, he also worked extensively and very successfully in graphic arts.

Favourite themes

Tassos drew inspiration from the Greek landscape, but also urban life. The common denominator in all his works was the element of social sensitivity.

After 1960 the printmaker turned to large, austere compositions with symbolic figures. He worked on:

• Themes with strong social protest elements.
• The recording and visual representation of political events in Greece and Cyprus.

The Alpha Bank Art Collection includes the works Epitaph and Noon by A. Tassos.