“Each act of vandalism is an ‘open wound’ for the city and devalues the purpose of a sculpture in public space,” said the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis
In an effort to keep the city’s monuments and sculptures that are housed in public spaces – in parks and squares – standing “standing”, the Municipality of Athens has been implementing an important cleaning, maintenance and restoration program for the last few months. The inevitable wear and tear observed over time, as well as the destructive vandalism that occurs from time to time in important works that adorn the city, led the municipal authority to take measures in order to preserve the capital’s cultural identity intact.
With respect to the public space, but also to the artists who created the works, the Municipality of Athens, through the Department of Cultural Heritage (Directorate of City Planning and Urban Environment), is proceeding with the maintenance and restoration of the outdoor sculptures, under the supervision and care of the specialist conservators of antiquities and works of art.
In the morning, the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, visited the park of Evangelismos, where a few days ago the caricatured “Girl” was found, a work created by the sculptor Antonis Sochos. Together with two groups of students from Maraslio – of the 1st grade of the Lyceum of the 26th GEL and of the one-seat Experimental Elementary School – they watched the first restoration work by the experts, as a direct reaction to the severe vandalism that the sculpture suffered. In his statement, Mr. Bakoyiannis emphasized:
“Every act of vandalism constitutes an ‘open wound’ for the city and devalues the purpose of a sculpture in the public space: historical memory, beauty, art itself. With respect, not only towards the historical and important figures depicted in the works, but also towards the artists themselves and their work, the municipal authority does the obvious. In collaboration with the scientific staff, he methodically and persistently restores the “wounds” of the works exhibited in the public space. The project is difficult, it requires time and resources, but we have the will and the reflexes to not allow the deterioration of our cultural heritage”.
In recent weeks, as part of the “Maintenance of outdoor sculptures” project, the municipality has progressed:
– In the conservation of 2 sculptures from natural wear and tear (Al. Panagouli, “Anadyomeni”).
– In the cleaning of pigments (graffiti) and in the restoration of protection with anti-graffiti material in 5 sculptures (Plato, Simata Domons, Lor. Mavilis, P. Gyparis, Vas. Olga), while the cleaning of the pedestal of the statue of Th. Kolokotronis begins immediately , on Stadiou street.
– In the restoration of a work that had been removed from the public space (theft/vandalism).
– In dealing with serious vandalism (Girl), as an emergency.
Restoration from natural wear and tear
Specifically, for the restoration of the monuments that have naturally worn out over time, for the first time last December the Andrianata of Alekos Panagoulis, the work of the sculptor Achilleas Vassiliou, as well as the sculptural composition “Anadyomeni”, the work of D .Armakola, in the Ermou Street fountain, which had multiple layers of salts and presented static issues. For its restoration, but also its safety, in fact, it was transferred to a maintenance laboratory and in the next period it will be re-placed in its place.
Graffiti cleaning
The Department of Cultural Heritage of the Municipality of Athens has carried out the cleaning of the bust of Plato (in the Academy of the same name) from graffiti and pigments, the work “Signs of Buildings” by the sculptor Clearchos Loukopoulos in the square of Brazil, the marble bust of Vas. Olga by George Dimitriadis of Athens in Evangelismos Park, as well as the bust of Lorenzo Mavilis in the square of the same name, by Petros Roubos, which had black pigment on its face.
At the same time, work is underway on the bust of Captain P. Gyparis in Polygono, while these days the cleaning of the pigments on the pedestal of Th. Kolokotronis, the work of Lazaros Sochos, also begins.
Indicative of the systematic vandalism of these works, is that the bust of Plato has been scientifically cleaned five times, while often the cleaning does not concern one point, but extends to the entire work.
Restoration of stolen sculptures
The restoration program also concerns sculptures that were stolen. Some are found worn and vandalized and are being restored. This category includes the bust of Colonel D. Psarros, which was found years ago in a bad condition – after being stolen – and remained stored for years. Its maintenance is being completed and it will soon be placed back in the public space. At the same time, the possibility of restoring two more busts is being considered. For some other stolen sculptures, which unfortunately are permanently lost, recasting is being considered where possible.
The outdoor “treasure” of Athens
In the area of the Municipality of Athens, there are approximately 250 sculptures. These are statuettes, busts, honorary but also free compositions from neoclassical to contemporary art, from realism and representation to symbolism and abstraction.
“The child, the city and the monuments”
With the aim of cultivating respect for the public space and especially the monuments, the Municipality of Athens implements the program “The child, the city and the monuments”, which is under the auspices of A.E. of the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou. As part of the program, and with the aim of raising awareness for the care of the city and its monuments, students from schools in Athens attend, in organized visits, the restoration process of the sculptures. To date, a total of 318 schools, 690 teachers and 9,250 students have participated in the program.
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