Vlassis Caniaris, Homage to the Walls of Athens 1941-…

Inspired by the walls of Athens

The work Homage to the Walls of Athens 1941-… belongs to a series of works by Vlassis Caniaris themed after the walls of Athens during the time of the German occupation. As in all the works of the series, the element of social and political commentary is also prominent in this piece.

Through the everyday experience, Caniaris:

• Commemorates the historical event without didacticism.
• Depicts history as a living experience and not merely as an artistic representation.

The ellipsis in the work’s title suggests an ongoing process that is unknown how long it will last.

Diverse materials

The artist used unconventional, diverse everyday materials, such as paper and fabric. He soaked these materials in plaster and then placed them on the painting surface.

This way, he successfully recreated the rough face of Athenian walls that serve as palimpsests of slogans and other inscriptions.

His life in a nutshell

Vlassis Caniaris (1928-2011) was born in Athens. In 1946, he began studying at the Medical School of Athens. However, 5 years later, he gave up his studies to devote himself to painting.

From 1950 to 1955, he studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts under Umberto Argyros, Giannis Pappas and Yannis Moralis. At the same time, he worked as an assistant of Yannis Tsarouchis on set design commissions.

After graduating, he moved to Rome and later to Paris. In 1966 he returned to Greece, but political conditions made him leave again a bit later, first back to Paris and then to Berlin as a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) fellow.

In 1976 he returned permanently to Athens, after being appointed Professor of Painting at the School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens. He held this position until 1966.

Artistic influences

Vlassis Caniaris’ personal style was influenced by the movements of: 

• Nouveau réalisme
• Arte povera (Poor art)
• Objet trouvé (Found object art)

Favourite themes and artistic style

Vlassis Caniaris sought to explore the relationship between art and life. This is why social and political conditions were a constant source of inspiration.  Through series of works like “The walls”, “The plasters”, “The barbed-wires”, he attempted to express his concerns in a comprehensive manner.

Very early on, he was also interested in the representation of space. As a result, he abandoned traditional painting and the two-dimensional canvas surface, and moved towards composite installations.

In his constructions, Caniaris used everyday materials, human dummies and functional objects. From 1981 onwards, he experimented with white paper rolls.

A pioneering artist

Vlassis Caniaris was one of the main representatives of the Generation of the ’60s.

His 1st solo exhibition in 1958 at the Zygos gallery in Athens passed into history as the 1st abstract art exhibition ever to take place in Greece.

The exhibition “Three proposals for a new Greek sculpture”, which he presented at the Venice Biennale in 1964, along with Daniel Panagopoulos and Nikos Kessanlis, was a milestone in shaping modern Greek art, incorporating international trends.

Throughout his career, Caniaris held over 20 solo exhibitions in Greece and abroad. At the same time, he participated in numerous group exhibitions.

The work of art in our publications

Homage to the Walls of Athens 1941-… by Vlassis Caniaris is referenced in the Alpha Bank publications:

• The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1920 until Today, edited by Irene Orati. The publication accompanied the same-titled exhibition.

Buy the publication The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1920 until Today on the Alpha Bank e-shop.

• The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1950 until Today (Rethymno), edited by Irene Orati.
• The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1950 until Today (Rhodes), edited by Irene Orati.
• The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1950 until Today (Cyprus, 2008), edited by Irene Orati.
• The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1950 until Today (Larissa), edited by Irene Orati.

In other literature

The work Homage to the walls of Athens 1941-… is also referenced in the catalogue of the exhibition “Vlassis Caniaris. Retrospective”, which took place at the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum in 1999.

The Alpha Bank Art Collection is not open to the public.

You can visit it by appointment. Contact us to book your visit.