Antiquarianism and Philhellenism

Remember real life art exhibitions? Well, we’ve found one for you! Okay, there’s a small catch. You have to be at the Athens International Airport to see it - and let’s face it, the current restrictive measures have thrown a rather large bucket of cold water over our comings and goings. But if you do happen to find yourself in the airport’s Arrivals Level before the end of April, do take the time to drop by this Museum of Cycladic Art pop-up exhibition that opens a poetic window onto the outbreak of the Greek Revolution of 1821. Hosted in the airport’s art and culture space, Antiquarianism and Philhellenism: The Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection displays a Wallpaper Panorama that was printed in France in 1828. On it are celebrated ancient Greek locations (Thermopylae, Delphi, Parnassos), as well as scenes from the Greeks’ Struggle for Independence (1821-1828) from the Ottoman yoke.

The Greek Revolution of 1821 aroused the support of the Western world and evolved into a movement “On behalf of the Greeks”, historically catalogued as Philhellenism; which in turn, wove its way into European art. The original wallpaper is currently on display (albeit behind shuttered doors) at the Cycladic Museum as part of the Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection, a unique Philhellenic Gallery of European artworks of the nineteenth century and Greek Neoclassicism. When museums re-open, visitors can view it and other important antiquities from major museums across Greece and Italy. The airport's parallel mini-exhibition also features a guided video tour of selected highlights from the Cycladic Museum version.