The National Gallery reopened yesterday, with the four works by engraver Christoforos Katsadiotis, which were vandalized on Monday by “Niki” party MP Nikos Papadopoulos, symbolically remaining on the floor. The temporary exhibition hosting these works, “The Allure of the Odd,” curated by the gallery’s director, Syra Tsiara, also reopened [1]. [2].
A blue ribbon has been placed around the area where the vandalized works are displayed on the floor, with a text accompanying the new exhibit titled “The Symptom,” which states: “The director of the National Gallery and curator of the exhibition, with the artist’s agreement, decided to keep the traces of violence and vandalism visible as a symptom.”
The Ministry of Culture has not issued any official response to the incident.
The vandalism, which was also condemned by the Holy Synod, sparked reactions. The Association of Workers in Contemporary Art (SEST) held a gathering outside the gallery yesterday afternoon in support of artistic freedom. Christian groups verbally attacked those peacefully demonstrating outside the building and attempted to enter the gallery, but the police intervened.
The “Niki” party MP stated that he made a significant mistake by entering the National Gallery but continued to describe the works as “rags” and “devil’s filth,” with his lawyer claiming he accidentally dropped them. The Ministry of Culture has not issued any official response to the incident.
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