Art
'I was about to cry,' says Greek art advisor after stolen Picasso painting recovered – CBC.ca
In 2012, Greece succumbed to a nation-wide anguish after three pieces of art were stolen from the National Gallery in Athens.
Now, Greek police say they’ve arrested a suspect in connection with the heist and have located the missing pieces, except for a sketch by Italian Mannerist Guglielmo Caccia, which police say was flushed down a toilet by the suspect after being damaged.
The paintings retrieved include Spanish artist Pablo Picasso’s Woman’s Head and Dutch artist Piet Mondrian’s Stammer Mill with Summer House. Picasso gave Woman’s Head to the Greek people to observe the country’s resilience against the Nazis.
The recovered paintings serve as a triumph to the Greek art community. Stelios Garipis, an art advisor in Greece, is among the many people celebrating their return.
Listen: Garipis tells As It Happens about the recovered paintings:
7:00Stelios Garipis tells Nil Köksal about the recovered stolen paintings
Garipis spoke to As It Happens guest host Nil Köksal on Wednesday. Here is part of their conversation.
Is relief the right word to describe … how you are feeling now that the Picasso and the Mondrian have been recovered?
Since I am a collector and an art enthusiast, I was thrilled to hear these paintings were found and soon they will be exposed [at the] National Gallery.
Concerning the Picasso painting, it was a national joy, a day of joy, because this Picasso painting was a personal gift to the Greek people.
Picasso, after World War II, offered this painting…. It was a portrait to Greek people as a recognition for their resistance to Germans and the Nazis.
That’s why it was the painting with not only artistic value, but also a real historic and national value.
It was the painting with not only artistic value, but also a real historic and national value. – Stelios Garipis, art advisor
How did the robbery unfold, if you could take us back to nine years ago?
There were two robbers that entered the building. The guards said that they acted very fast. They grabbed the three paintings and they got out.
The security guards were sure and they said definitely there were two robbers. Now the police found a man who was allegedly the one robber. And according to his statements, it was a one-man show.
And for nine years, he was trying to [figure out] what he’s going to do with these paintings. He didn’t have, according to his statement, an objective. … He just had these paintings at his house.
He said he was an art lover, as I understand it.
According to his Twitter account that we’ve started following, he was following all auction houses…. He was following all the litigations concerning the stolen artworks.
And he was an art dealer. Something like that. He was presented as an art dealer. Now, according to his defence, he was a construction worker. But no one believes this.
What happens next in terms of the case?
We are waiting for the next hearing, which is scheduled for [Thursday]. And I am very curious to listen to his statements and his defence concerning the third painting.
The mystery continues in some ways — in a lot of ways. But how did police finally figure out who they believe had these paintings? How did police get to the bottom of the case?
We still don’t know, since the inquiry is still secret. We don’t know how they managed to arrest him.
He was about to fly to Amsterdam and he was arrested and he indicated to the policeman the place where he had hidden the two of these stolen paintings. Because, as he said, he was embarrassed. He was really embarrassed after some newspaper articles concerning the case last February.
What finally is it going to feel like for you, Mr. Garipis, to see the Picasso hanging, as it should, inside the gallery?
It will be a very big relief for me because when I heard the news, I started shouting in the street … I started shouting like crazy. I was about to cry.
This painting has the value of the Guernica painting. It reminds [me] of my people’s, Greek people’s, fight against Nazism during World War II. It’s a Picasso painting, after all.
My son has never seen the Picasso painting in Greece. We have to go to parties, we have to go to Barcelona to see Picasso paintings. It’s the only Picasso painting in Greece.
Written by Keena Alwahaidi. Interview produced by Niza Lyapa Nondo. Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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