Maria Callas, Medea, Argonauts: Maria Callas Returns to Lisbon Through Nikos Floros' Exhibition
(PRWEB) January 08, 2018 -- The Hellenic spirit, history and imagination were clearly evident in the exhibition of sculptured works of art by Nikos Floros at the historical building of the Geographical Society of Lisbon (in Sala Portugal), which comprises the Ethnographic and Historical Museum of the Discoveries of Portugal. Nikos Floros remarked that the works exhibited during the 40th anniversary of the death of “La Divina” Maria Callas, were inspired by the celebrated soprano’s role of Medea, one of the oldest myths of a hero’s quest.
Nikos Floros chose to focus on Maria Callas’ emblematic role of Medea - which the great artist interpreted in an inimitable way - and the Argonauts, to show the connection with the Portuguese explorers who, like other Argonauts, tame the waves in search of new and distant destinations. With this magnificent exhibition, Maria Callas returns to Lisbon, 59 years after her presentation at the National Theater of São Carlos, in March 1958.
The exhibition opened on Thursday, November 30th, 2017 at 17:00 and was held under the auspices of the Lisbon Geographical Society, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Portugal, HRH Dom Miguel of Bragança Prince of Portugal and Duke of Viseu, the Portuguese Academy of Letters & Arts, The Ministry of Culture of the Hellenic Republic, the Embassy of Greece to Portugal, the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO. Τhe Prefecture of Peloponnese has also been a major Supporter of Nikos Floros and his work inspired by Maria Callas, both of whom were natives the Peloponnese.
Nikos Floros, an internationally recognized artist, educated at the École des Beaux Arts of Paris, France, utilizes materials from our everyday life, which he transforms into magnificent, original works of art. His unique sculptural mosaics and forms, produce a transcendent, ecstatic connection to the human psyche, something that the artist seeks to evoke. Through his artwork, Nikos Floros has combined elements to make an alternate perception: Utilizing a very modern medium, aluminum, along with a contemporary and powerful brand, Coca-Cola, he has weaved a new form of “fabric” and mosaic, in order to create unique and original sculptural costumes, and haunting mosaic portraits that evoke the power and influence historical figures and personalities. These sculptural costumes - symbols of power, give artistic shape to a material, which is a product of our modern society, wishing to make evident the great strength that the autocracy of modern day marketing and advertising exercises over common man.
The main sponsors of this exhibition are:
Badounas watch & jewel, which offered a unique pure solid silver disc as a present to HRH Dom Miguel de Bragança for the Greek – Portuguese friendship,
Eftymios Pontzis CEO of the Hellenic Eurotrans group of companies – the official transporter of Nikos Floros’ artistic creations all over the world – and
Greek Tavern Dionysos in Lisbon, which sponsored the cocktail reception of Greek delicacies at the conclusion of the event.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the President of the Lisbon Geographical Society the honorable Professor Dr. Luís-Aires Barros and His Royal Highness Dom Miguel de Bragança, Prince of Portugal.
H.E. Mrs. Ekaterini Simopoulou, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Portugal and Professor Benito Martinez - President of Genealogy, Heraldry and Faleristics Sector of the LGS.
The surrealistic pop-art creations by Nikos Floros have been exhibited around the world, including many major museums, such as the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Tsarytsino State Museum and Reserve, Moscow, St. Isaac’s State Cathedral Museum, St. Petersburg, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington-DC, USA, the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria and the Teatro Communale in Bologna, Italy, among others.
Nikos Floros has been honored by the Russian State for his artistic creations (2016) and was the only artist invited to exhibit his work dedicated to Princess Grace in Monte Carlo, Monaco, during the “Grace: Symbol of Change” international tribute, held under the auspices of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Nikos Floros’ work has received worldwide recognition and has been covered by major news agencies, such as Reuters, BBC, Sky News, ABC News, New York Times, Vogue, W, Associated Press, Fashion TV and many other news and television channels throughout the world.
Curators of the exhibition are Dr. Vítor Escudero, of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Chancellor of the Academy of Letters and Arts and Mr. Aristotelis Karantis.
Nikos Floros dedicates this exhibition to the recently deceased Ambassador and Counselor of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Dimitris Tzanakis, who worked tirelessly to promote cultural diplomacy and was an enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Floros’ artistic creations and exhibitions around the world.
The inauguration of the exhibition was greatly enriched by the performances by the artists of Hellenic descent, guitarist Constantinos Boulougaris and Athina Titaki, who recited her poetry inspired by the above subject..
Photos by Elena Smyrnioti.
Dora Ziongas, Aldeus Entertainment, +1 (917) 539-9821, [email protected]
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