Κέντρο Νεοκλασσικής Γλυπτικής Νίκος Σοφιαλάκης | Nikos Sofialakis Center
of Neoclassical Sculpture
"Costas Coulentianos - The last of the modern acrobats” at the Benaki Museum
Thursday, September 27, 2012
On Thursday, September 27, 2012, Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chranotis, President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, together with Ms. Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication and Public Relations, attended the grand opening of the sculpture exhibition “Costas Coulentianos- The last of the modern acrobats” at the Benaki Museum.
Pictured here (from left to right): Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication and Public Relations, Mr. Theodoros Papadopoulos, Manager of the Art Collection, and Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis, President and founder of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture
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The Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship Award for 2012
October 2012
The 2012 Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship Award has been awarded to Ms Caroline Coleman, a third year student of the Icon and Wall Painting Diploma in the Liturgical Arts Program at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts in the United Kingdom. Caroline's interest in the unifying power of art led her to the study of iconography with its rich spiritual expression and symbols. The Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship is in acknowledgement of the excellence of Caroline's work, which shows a rare combination of attention to detail and sensitivity.
Featured (left): A work by Caroline Coleman
For more information, please visit The Prince's School of Traditional Arts
ΝEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Center Online
International Diabetes Awareness Day - Formal Lighting of the Zappeion Hall
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture was proud to be a part of the formal lighting ceremony of the Zappeion Hall on the occasion of the International Day of Awareness for Diabetes on November 14, 2012. The event, organized by the Friends of the Zappeion and Friends of the Hellenic Diabetes Association, represented Greece's participation in the global movement forged by the International Diabetes Association to light up historic buildings and monuments all over the world in an effort to raise awareness for the disease. The Zappeion Hall was illuminated in blue light, the color for diabetes awareness, by the Deputy Minister of Public Health and Social Care, Mr. Marios Salmas.
Pictured here: The President of the Friends of the Zappeion, Ms Feni Xatziathanasiadou (left) together with Ms Dimitra Dondorou (right), Director of Communication and Public Relations at the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture
Commemorative event for the 55th anniversary of the death of Nikos Kazantzakis, at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
Saturday, December 8, 2012
On Saturday, December 8, 2012, the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture paid tribute to the great ecumenical author, Nikos Kazantzakis, in honor of the 55th anniversary of his death. Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis, President and founder of the Center, together with Nicole Chraniotis, grand-daughter of Nikos Sofialakis and Director of Research at the Center, and Ms. Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication & Public Relations, attended the commemorative gala event in honor of this important anniversary at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.
The event, which was open to the public free of cost, was entitled, "The Child Honors Nikos Kazantzakis", and was co-organized by the Kazantzakis Publications and the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. The event, presented under the artistic direction of Mary Kaldara and Niki Stavrou, featured the Spyros Lambrou Children's Choir, the rock group "Karma", which presented songs based on Nikos Kazantzakis' "Salvatores Dei", and the Cretan lyre player, Giorgos Skordalos.
The concert was followed by the viewing of the 3-time academy award winning film, "Zorba the Greek", the cinematographic classic in which the artistic visions of Nikos Kazantzakis, Michael Cacoyannis, and Mikis Theodorakis meet. The event, which opened with a short greeting by Ms. Niki Stavrou, Director of the Kazantzakis Publications, was hailed by Mikis Theodorakis, whose salutations were conveyed to the audience by Ms. Stavrou.
The event was attended by the Under Secretary of Culture, Mr. Stavros Tzavaras, the renowned actor Lakis Lazopoulos - who presented the film, "Zorba the Greek", and a full audience that gathered to honor the memory of Nikos Kazantzakis.
Pictured in Photo 1: Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Stavros Tzavaras with Vice-Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis HN (ret)., Founder and President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture.
Pictured in Photo 2: Ms. Niki Stavrou, Director of the Kazantzakis Publications, with Vice-Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis, President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, and Ms. Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication and Public Relations at the Center
Christmas Bazaar at the B&M. Theocharakis Foundation for the Arts and Music
Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture was pleased to attend this year's Art Shop Christmas Bazaar at the B&M Theocharakis Foundation for the Arts and Music. While at the Bazaar, which was held with great success during the weekend of December 1-2, 2012, the President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, Vice-Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis HN (ret), Nicole Chraniotis, grand-daughter of Nikos Sofialakis, and Ms. Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication and Public Relations at the Center, had occasion to meet with Mr. Fotis Papathanasiou, General Manager at the B&M Theocharakis Foundation, as well as to enjoy the remarkable exhibition "Nikolaos Gyzis - the great painter", in honor of one of Greece's most treasured artists and one of the most important proponents of the Munich School - Nikolaos Gyzis.
The exhibition, which will run until February 3, 2013, is presented in collaboration with the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki, with many important works on loan from the collections at the National Gallery, the Athens Music Hall, the Averoff Gallery as well as many private collections.
Pictured in Photo 1: For the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture: Dimitra Dondorou - Director of Communication and Public Relations, Vice-Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis HN (ret) - President and Founder, Nicole Chraniotis, grand-daughter of Nikos Sofialakis and Director of Research
Pictured in Photo 2: N. Chraniotis, Vice Admiral G. Chraniotis, D. Dondorou
The works of Nikos Sofialakis at the "130 Years NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS" Exhibition at the Foundation of the Hellenic World
Friday, December 14 2012
The Foundation of the Hellenic World, in collaboration with the Kazantzakis Publications, the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum, and the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture present, for the first time in Athens, an exhibition-homage for the great Greek author, entitled "130 Years Nikos Kazantzakis".
The exhibition opened formally to the public on Friday, December 14, 2012, with great success at the Foundation of the Hellenic World, in the presence of distinguished guests who honored the memory of the great author and paid tribute to the magnitude of his works, which are on display at the exhibition.
Opening salutations were delivered by Mr. Dimitris Efraimoglou, Managing Consultant of the Foundation, Ms. Niki Stavrou, Director of the Kazantzakis Publications, Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis (ret), Founder and President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, and Mr. Lefteris Charonitis, member of the Executive Board of the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum.
The full press release will be available in English shortly. Please check back periodically with the Events page for more information.
Visit to the Christmas Village at Zappeion Hall
Saturday, January 4, 2013
The Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture was pleased to visit this year's Christmas Village at the Zappeion Hall on January 4th, 2013. The Zappeion Hall, where History and Tradition converge, and which is considered one of Athens' most important places cultural spaces, hosted the magical Christmas Village between December 7, 2013 and January 7, 2013 with great success.
The exceptionally active and creative Society of Friends of the Zappeion organized this holiday event with great care and devotion, offering to visitors of all ages, who had opportunity to enjoy special rides, a live band, and an outdoor bazaar filled with Greek foods and products, a warm note of optimism, joy, and solidarity with a view of the Acropolis and Mount Lykabettus.
The Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, which responds to each invitation by the Friends of the Zappeion with joy, supports the activities of the Society, and looks forward to co-organizing a joint charitable event in the near future. Many of us have walked in the gardens of the Zappeion, breathing in a little bit of the romantic air of an older Athens, with its sweet smelling roses and acacia trees. Let us all help so that the Zappeion remains a central and vital cultural space of our city...
Pictured here: Vice Admiral G. Chraniotis (ret), Founder & President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, Mrs. Feni Chatziathansiadou, President of the Friends of the Zappeion, Ms. Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication & PR at the Center of Neoclassical Sculpture
Microsculpture Exhibition at the 9th Scientific Symposium "Excavation and Research IX"
Friday - Saturday, April 5-6, 2013
The works of sculptor Nikos Sofialakis were presented during the Ninth Scientific Symposium entitled, “EXCAVATION AND RESEARCH, IX”, of the Department of Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens on April 5 and 6, 2013. The Symposium was part of the commemorative celebrations by the Office of the Provost of the School of Philosophy entitled, “The School of Philosophy of the University of Athens: 175 years of operation (1837-2012) / 25 years on Campus (1987-2012)”.
The Microsculpture exhibition of works by Nikos Sofialakis (1914-2002) was co-organized with the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture and presented at the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheater at the main building of the University of Athens. Associate Professor of the History of Art, Dimitris Pavlopoulos, delivered the official presentation of the works, which concluded the final panel of the morning session entitled, “Excavations and Field Research in Locations of Prehistoric, Classical, and Roman Times”.
The exhibition was open to the graduate students and doctoral candidates of the Department of Archaeology and History of Art, as well as to the general public in attendance at the Symposium. On display were 12 works in marble and terracotta which have been presented abroad with distinction, as characteristic samples of the Cretan sculptor’s superb craftsmanship in Microsculpture.
New Publication: "The Battle of Crete by the Sculptor Nikos Sofialakis"
May 2013
The publication entitled "The Battle of Crete by the Sculptor Nikos Sofialakis" presents the monumental composition by the Rethymnon-born sculptor on the subject of the famous WWII battle of the same name. The composition chronicles the events of this important Battle, which left its indelible mark on both, Greek History and the History of the World, through the artistic viewpoint of the sculptor.
The publication includes a Foreword by Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis (HN, ret.), Founder and President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, and texts by Dimitris Pavlopoulos, Assistant Professor of Art History at the Department of Archaeology and Art History of the University of Athens and Zetta Antonopoulou, Art Historian, MSc in Monument Preservation from the National Technical University of Athens and Doctoral Candidate of the Department of Archaeology and Art History of the University of Athens. The publication was translated into English by the sculptor's grand-daughter, Franjeska Nicole Chraniotis, MA in Applied Sociology and Comparative Religion and Director of Research on the artist's life and work at the Center.
Τhis bilingual (Greek-English) illustrated publication of 72 pages is rich in photographic material and presents the course of the composition from the moment of it's commission by the Leader of the Cretan National Resistance in WWII, Captain Manolis Badouvas, to the initial studies in charcoal, its execution in Pendelic marble measuring 18 meters in length, its grand presentation to the public and its final installation, as a Frieze, at the Museum-Monument of Cretan National Resistance Fighters in Heraklion, Crete. The publication includes analyses on this monumental Frieze as well as on the personality, the life and the works of the artist, Nikos Sofialakis, who was born in 1914 in Erfous, Mylopotamos, Crete, and passed away in 2002 in Athens, Greece.
CRETE - THE GREAT MEETING, Pan-Cretan Exhibition in Faliron
May 24-27 2013
Τhe Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture is participating in the Pan-Cretan Exhibition entitled "CRETE - THE GREAT MEETING" which will be held at the Tae Kwon Do Stadium in Faliron between May 24-27 2013. Visit us at Stand # 6 on Aisle "Nikos Ksylouris" to learn more about the Center's activities and about our new publication, "THE BATTLE OF CRETE BY THE SCULPTOR NIKOS SOFIALAKIS".
This exhibition, which is co-organized by PromExpo and the Region of Crete, is under the auspices of the Ministry of Development, Infrastructure, Competitiveness, Transport and Networks, the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the Ministry of Tourism, as well as the World Council of Cretans, the Panhellenic Federation of Cretan Associations, the Pan-Cretan Union, the Chambers of Chania, Heraklion, Lasithi and Rethmyno, the Municipalities of Heraklion and Chania, the Exports Association of Crete, the National Association of Hellenic Commerce, the Association of Oil producing Municipalities of Crete, the Hellenic-Chinese, Hellenic-Russian, Hellenic-Italian, Hellenic-German, Hellenic-Brazilian, Arab-Hellenic, Hellenic-Canadian Chambers of Commerce and the Hellenic-Serbian Commercial and Industrial Union.
Τhis great meeting will present many cultural events filled with Cretan aroma, in addition to the commercial aspects of the exhibition. With the support of the Pan-Cretan Union, several commemorative festivities will be held in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Cretan union with Greece and the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
Follow the link to the official website for the Exhibition: www.promexpo.gr
BOOK PRESENTATION OF ILLUSTRATED EDITION IN ATHENS
June 17 2013
Τhe Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture invites you to the special presentaiton of the illustrated edition titled "THE BATTLE OF CRETE BY THE SCULPTOR NIKOS SOFIALAKIS" on Monday, June 17, 2013, at 13:00 at AEGLI ZAPPEION - "Prive" Event Hall.
The special illustrated edition recently published by the Center chronicles the epic Battle through the artistic lens of the sculptor, who renders the subject in nine narrative units that tell the story of this singular event that impacted both, Greek and World History.
The publication includes a Foreword by the Founder and President of the Center of Neoclassical Sculpture, Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis, HN (ret) and two original studies that treat of the immediate subject and of the scope of contemporary Greek sculpture, by Assistant Professor of Art History, Dimitris Pavlopoulos of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Athens and Zetta Antonopoulou, Art Historian and Supervisor at the Athens Municipal Historical Archive and Doctoral Candidate of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Athens.
The event is under the aegis of the Pan-Cretan Union.
Following the book presentation, cocktails will be offered in the foyer of the "Prive" Event Hall
Graduate Students of the Department of Archaeology and History of Art visit the
Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
On Wednesday, February 27 2013, the graduate students of the Department of Archaeology and the History of Art of the University of Athens visited the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture. The students, who were accompanied by their instructor, Dimitris Pavlopous, Associate Professor of the History of Art at the University of Athens, had the opportunity to explore the Center and to acquaint themselves with works of Nikos Sofialakis.
Professor Pavlopoulos, who presented the life and work of the sculptor to the students, spoke of the classical realism that defines the artist’s works, the craftsmanship in working the marble directly with classical tools, and emphasized Sofialakis’ enduring interest in the “human condition”, which he negotiated in each of his compositions.
Pictured here from right to left: Professor Dimitris Pavlopoulos, Dimitra Dondorou, Director of Communication and Public Relations at the Center, Vice Admiral Georgios P. Chraniotis, President of the Center, with the graduate students of the Department of Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens.
NIKOS SOFIALAKIS SCHOLARS - at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts
October 2013
In October 2013 the Founder and President of the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture attended the Icon & Wall Painting Diploma exhibition held at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London, the United Kingdom.
The Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture is a partner institution of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, a charity of HRH Prince of Wales, which offers practicing artists the opportunity to undertake research at the highest level with post-graduate degrees, with the belief that "[...]tradition is continual renewal....[and] experiencing the traditional arts as living skills, students participate in their vibrancy and regeneration".
Vice Admiral Chraniotis, who personally established the Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship Award at the Prince's School in 2010, increased the Center's commitment to a full scholarship, and had the oportunity to meet with Aidan Hart, head of the Icon & Wall Painting Diploma, and the four Nikos Sofialakis Scholars, Iulia Clow, Rachel Sim, Carolyn Coleman and Lee Harvey, where he stated passionately that "spiritual art serves a vital social function at a time when our world must focus on what unites and elevates our humanity". "Sacred painting," he explained, "enables us to see with our spiritual sight, past the visible and imperfect nature of this world".
The Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship Award for 2013
October 2013
The 2013 Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship Award has been awarded to Ms Lee Harvey, a student of the Icon and Wall Painting diploma who comes to the field of traditional art from a background in graphic design.
Ms. Harvey has displayed considerable skill in her modelling, observation of form, and colour
harmony, and her work has merited a full scholarship in the program.
The Nikos Sofialakis Scholarship is in acknowledgement of the excellence of Lee's work, which evinces her dedicated to Iconography as a vocation and a calling.
Featured (left): A work by Lee Harvey
For more information, please visit The Prince's School of Traditional Arts
OPEN HOUSE ATHENS - Weekend of Architectural Tours at the Nikos Sofialakis
Center of Neoclassical Sculpture
April 5-6 2014
On April 5-6 2014, the Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture participated in the successful event titled "OPEN HOUSE ATHENS - WEEKEND OF ARCHITECTURAL TOURS", organized by the organization OPEN HOUSE ATHENS. The aim of the event was to acquaint citizens and visitors of Athens with the architectural treasures of the city, and to contribute to a "deeper understanding of urban design and public space".
The Nikos Sofialakis Center of Neoclassical Sculpture was open to visitors who were led on guided tours of the premises by OPEN HOUSE volunteers. The OPEN HOUSE volunteers presented visitors with detailed information on the unique architectural design of the building which houses the Center, a work by architect Sofia Tsiraki and supervising arhcitect Tassos Biris, and guided visitors on short, informative tours of the Center's three levels - the Sculptures Hall, the Workshop and the Microsculpture Loft, which showcase the works of the Cretan sculptor, Nikos Sofialakis.
Visitors were given a short presentation on the life and works of Nikos Sofialakis, and gleaned an insight into his particular worldview, with regard to his atelier, which previously stood where the new building was erected, and the manner in which it informed the unique architectural design of the contemporary art space.
THE NIKOS SOFIALAKIS CENTER OF NEOCLASSICAL SCULPTURE
c. THE NIKOS SOFIALAKIS CENTER OF NEOCLASSICAL SCULPTURE