FOR THE TENTH consecutive year, and as part of the ‘Sea Days’ events organized by the municipality of Piraeus, Kapsiotis Gallery in Piraeus gathers the works of 38 renowned Greek artists who have explored the theme of the sea. Among them, you will find the best contemporary seascape artists of Greece. The exhibition, titled ‘Libations to the Sea’ (Σπονδές στη Θάλασσα), will be inaugurated by the mayor of Piraeus Yiannis Moralis on May 24. ‘Libations to the Sea’ has been curated by Sophia Kapsioti, while the work on the invitation is by Kostis Georgiou, who has depicted a quintessential detail of a scene from Piraeus’s port.

The love for the much-vaunted sea is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Greeks, and has shaped their history. By the term libation what is meant is a kind of sacrifice in the context of the ancient Greek religion. From prehistoric times libations were one of the most common rituals. The libation, the offering, the rendering of honor, is followed by the invocation to some deity. It is in itself a supreme act of worship, with which we offer the purest and truest part of our soul, giving our respects and aiming towards communication with the Divine. It is a sacred bond that unites people with every higher power.

The 38 renowned artists who participate in the exhibition treat the sea as a “deity”, as something sacred and each one submits their own “offering”, their own “libation” to the vast blue sea, like the ancient greeks did, when they made their sacrifices on the beach, as Homer tells us. More than 50 works of art compose a visual narrative with the sea as the protagonist and each one tells its own fascinating story. Sometimes calm, sometimes agitated. When it plays its eternal game with the sun and shimmers under its rays, or even when it seductively reflects in its waters the colors of the evening. From sea creatures that live in its depths, sea bathers who enjoy the beach, from ships and ports to the sea in all its glory, this exhibition has something for every sea lover!

The painters participating in the exhibition are: Dafni Angelidou, Yiannis Adamakis, Sotiris Andrianos, Stathis Vatanidis, Chryssa Verghi, Olga Verykaki, Kostis Georgiou, Tassos Dimos, Frangiskos Doukakis, Irini Iliopoulou, Sofia Kalogeropoulou, Rania Kapeliari, Christos Kehagioglou. Demosthenes Kokkinidis , Despina Kouvatsou , Maria Ktistopoulou, Michalis Madenis, Michalis Manousakis, Raphael Baikas, Dimitris Pallantzas, Kostas Papanikolaou, Vangelis Rinas, Silvana Samartzidou, Pavlos Samios, Sotiris Sorogas, Kostas Spyriounis, Konstantinos Tolis, Maria Filopoulou, Manolis Charos.

And the sculptors: Stelios Gavalas, Nikos Kalafatis, Poly Kanistra, Antonis Kastrinakis, Dionysis Mataragas, Nikos Giorgos Papoutsidis.

With respect to the gallery’s audience, works of high aesthetics and quality were selected, which constitute a tour of the entire spectrum of the Greek visual scene of the last decades.

With this exhibition, its organizers are pleased to welcome the great celebration of Greek shipping, the ‘Posidonia’ exhibition that will take place at the Metropolitan Expo Center in Athens, from June 3 to 7.

• ‘Libation to the Sea’ (Σπονδές στη Θάλασσα/Spondes sti Thalassa) Group exhibition of paintings and sculptures. Exhibition duration: 24 May – 15 June 2024 Opening of the exhibition: Friday 24 May 2024 18.00-22.00 hours. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 10:00 – 15:00 and Tuesday, Thursday , Friday 10:00 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 21:00.
• Kapsiotis Gallery is on the corner of Alkiviadou 153 & Sotiros Sts, only 100 metres from the Metro stop Dimotiko Theatro in Piraeus (blue line/line 3). Phone: 210 4129257. Mob: 6946582977. Site http://www.gallerykapsioti.gr

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