Yesterday, I spoke to British artist Tomas Watson, whose new exhibition of artwork, entitled: Kormos: Form and Transformation begins today in Sigri, on the island of Lesvos.

For Tomas, the Greek word "kormos" in the exhibition title carries significance as it is used here to mean “trunk, torso, and core". Whilst "trunk" in English has narrower meaning, for this purpose “kormos” captures more than one aspect of a physical form.

A former student of The Slade School of Fine Art, Tomas received a Greek government scholarship to come and paint in Greece and has been living there since 1994. “What drew me to Greece was the light.” he explains. He has lived in Athens, the islands of Astypalaia, Andros, and Lesvos, where he runs the painting and creative writing retreat, he recently founded with his partner the writer, Efrosini Camatsos.

In 1998, Tomas received the BP award for a self-portrait and composition set within a colourful Dodecanese kitchen on the island of Nisyros, where he was staying at the time.

On the back of his BP win, a portrait of the novelist and philhellene John Robert Fowles was commissioned and put on show at London’s National Portrait Gallery in 2001.

Tomas remembers the sitting well, “I happened to be reading The Magus, which moved me. He was always jotting notes in his little notebook whilst I was painting him, and sometimes would doze off. One of these times, his notebook fell off his lap, and as I picked it up, I saw he had been writing about me: “T.W.: your dark eyes, cautious to comment.””

Tomas’s aim for the current show is for it to travel, to be seen widely in Athens and beyond.

The show consists of forty-one works. It ranges from drawings in charcoal, ink, pencil, and gouache, etchings, and collage, to oil on canvas. The smallest work is 24 x 30 cm, and the largest 150 x 200 cm. Eighteen of the forty-one works are of the Parthenon Marbles.

“The images have been arranged to create dialogue between differing forms,” he says.

The painting of Hermes (figure H, west pediment) hangs next to a painting he made of a male torso from a live model in a similar position to the statue and is next to an ink drawing of a petrified trunk.

The rising goddess painting (figure K, east pediment) has been placed next to a painting of a seated woman in rich drapery. 

On the inspiration behind these artworks, he further explains:

“I happened to be in London for three weeks in February 2020 and decided as I couldn't work in the house I was staying in, I would draw from sculptures in museums, as I used to do when a student at The Slade. I started with the Horse of Selene and continued with several of the Parthenon Sculptures. I photographed the sculptures which interested me visually, then, Covid hit, and I had to return to Greece. 

During the severe lockdown that followed, I continued working on the studies I had started in charcoal, gouache, and tempera, and also began much larger works in oil on canvas or linen. Initially, what drove me to do this was a need to return to an aesthetic, which has been buried under the weight of uninspiring contemporary art, but which I feel is becoming more valid and needed.

While doing these pieces over a period of two years, it became clear to me that in my own small way, as a British artist and in a symbolic sense, I was "returning" the marbles to Greece.

My work throughout my career has largely been based on the human figure. I have always painted human bodies; however, not in their entirety. I have concentrated on the part that I am particularly interested in – the torso, the back, shoulders, and often in the form of studies or fragments. So, when the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest approached me to do an exhibition, the theme organically came about. Whether it is petrified trunks of trees, fragmented torsos of marble sculptures, or my own studies from live human models, I found that I treated the subject in the same manner.”

To view the exhibition brochure, follow the link here.

Tomas Watson is represented by London’s Jill George Gallery and Accesso Galleria, Tuscany.

Kormos: Form and Transformation opens August 26, 2022, at the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.

For details, visit lesvosmuseum.gr

For information about the retreat, visit sigriartsretreat.com

Interview by Christina Borg for BCRPM

Instagram borg_sketches and subscribe to Christina Borg's newsletter on borgs.substack.com

The municipality of Palaio Faliro in cooperation with Vasiliki Voutzali have organised a cycling event from London to Athens. This will take place from Sunday14 August to Sunday 28 August 2022.

Photo credit: Vasiliki Voutzali

The route will be about 3,000 km starting at the British Museum and ending at the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis. The cycling event is the first that has been organised by Greek cycling enthusiasts.

The first such event to take place supporting the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, was a solo cyclist from the UK, Dr Christopher Stockdale. Read more about Christopher's eventful campaign, which was then followed by Luca Lo Sicco from Sicily, and cycling enthusiast Michelle Petrax-Evans from Yorkshire.

Sunday's ride is also supporting the reunificaton of the Parthenon Marbles and aptly entitled 'Bring them Back': 5 cyclists, 14 days 3000 kms.

Photo credit: Vasiliki Voutzali

Vasiliki spoke to BCRPM on her arrival in London and said " the idea for a cycle ride was mine, the last time I had started a cycle in London was 2014 and it was time for another. Once we got together to discuss this, we all realised that we ought to do this in the name of the reunification of the sculptures from the Parthenon. One of the cyclists, Steffan is from Germany and now working and living in Mytilene, Lesvos, another Christos Koromilas, is blind and will join us when we arrive on Greek soil. We had no idea about Dr Stockdale's ride until we made contact with BCRPM. We are delighted to do this cycle ride for this great cause.

"We will also lay flowers by the sculpted bust of Melina Mercouri in Athens, once we arrive in the city on the 28th of August. We have small Caryatid statues that we will hold as we set off, as we are sure that she is also wishing us well on our 3000 kms cycle for the Parthenon scultures! Also exciting is when we arrive on Greek soil to be joined by Stavros Soumas.

"The bike was chosen as a means of travelling on this route because we love to cycle but also because of it is a 'natural' means of exercise, it is fun and as a mode of transport, it doesn't burden the environment." Added Vasiliki Voutzali.

"This project is also dedicated to three of our good friends and fellow travellers, who unfortunately are no longer with us: Kostas Kesinis, Theofanis Barlas and Stelios Stelios Goulielmos. They are forever in our minds." Concludes Vasiliki Voutzali

This cycling event is under the auspices of the POLITICAL PROTECTION - IDAFK P.E.E.E.P.I. - D.D.I.P.P.D.K. - ACTIVE CITIZENS of the Institute for The Management of Man-made and Natural Disasters - international Network for Civil Protection and Crisis Management belonging to the Ministry of Labour and in particular to the department of K.A.L.O. The sponsors as well as the participants with some of their achievements are listed below:

SPONSORS:
1. Alexandros Matheou, Vascular Surgeon
2. H&Β
4. Woodcam
5. Sumas Batteries
6. Kovanis Custom Sportswear
7. Alfa Cyclingteam
8. Toys Stores
9. ANEK LINES Οfficial
11. Superfast Ferries
10. Gountas Physio
11. Νικολαΐδης driving school
12. Grill spot
13. Dalavikas Bikes
14. Zs Zitrosocks
15. ΠΑΣ ΠΗΝΕΙΟΣ

Participants
1. Vasiliki Voutzali : Transcontinental race 2014 (4000 km) London - Istanbul , Indian Pacific race Perth-Sydney (5500 km )
2. Steffen Streich: German living and working in Mytilene, Lesvos and competes in ultra endurance races under the Greek flag, some of his achievements: TCR (London -Istanbul 3500 km), IPWR (Perth -Sydney Australia 5780 km), Transam(6900 km) TransAfrica (1860 km) North Cape -Tarifa (7800 km)
3. Giannis Efthymiou - 2 entries in the Round of Central Greece 2017 and 2021 (1400 km), 2 participations Paris Brest Paris 2015 and 2019 (1200 km )
4. Vasilis Kordas  - many distinctions in endurance cycling races in Greece and abroad
5.Stavros Soumas has participated in events within Greece from 200 to 600 kms. Once the five cyclists reach Greek soil, Christos Koromilias, an athlete with visual disabilities, will be joining the cycle run to the Acropolis. Christos Koromilas President Ionas People with Disabilities, member of the Board of Directors of the Lighthouse of the Blind of Greece, the Guide Dogs for the Blind of Greece and the EAOM people with disabilities.

Supporters: OAKA OLYMPIC ATHLETIC CENTER of Athens "Spiros Louis", and the national sports federation of people with disabilities, plus Ionas department of therapeutic education and para-sports for people with disabilities.

Dame Janet Suzman, Chair of BCRPM sent an email to congratulate the cyclists on their ride:

Wish I could join you to cheer you on your way.
What a great adventure you’re undertaking and how very fit you all are!
Thanks on behalf of all civilised free spirits! Have a great time en route.
Janet S

"

Photo credit: Vasiliki Voutzali

As did Dr Christopher Stockdale:

Dear Vasiliki,

I was over the moon when Marlen told me that you were planning to cycle 3000k from the British Museum to the Acropolis to highlight the plight of the separated Parthenon sculptures.
In doing so you will spiritually join those pieces of sculpture that lie forlornly in the Duveen Gallery to those in their rightful place in the New Acropolis Museum in full view of the Parthenon. 
Since the Parthenon frieze was completed in 432 BC the stones suffered terrible torment as the years passed by but none more so than by Elgin's wrecking crew in 1800.You will be fully cognizant of the journey made by a significant number of pieces to London and their eventual acquisition by the British Government.
In 1983 Eleni Cubitt became the secretary of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM) and since then a tireless worldwide community of campaigners have worked so hard nationally and internationally to seek the return of the British held pieces of frieze (52), metopes (15) and figures (15) to their rightful home. I'm so sorry that you will be unable to meet Eleni who broke our hearts when she passed away in 2020.
I began the journey you are undertaking on the 15th April 2005 and arrived at the gates of the Acropolis some 21 days later.I shall never forget my wondrous adventure and the inspiration for my journey, ie. the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, remained strong throughout and has never left me.
I wish you the safest of travels and hope your heart will be as uplifted as mine when you stand alongside the Parthenon with your bike held proudly in the air ( a necessary tradition!!)
I shall be thinking of you daily and thank you for making such a monumental effort on behalf of the sculptures.
With my very warmest regards,
Chris Stockdale

The Acropolis Museum celebrates August Full Moon on Friday 12 August 2022 with Greek songs about the moon, film music and famous melodies from abroad, performed by the historic Hellenic Air Force Band, in the Museum’s entrance courtyard at 9 p.m.

The Hellenic Air Force Band consists of senior and junior officers – high-level musicians who studied at various conservatories of the country and were admitted into the ranks of the Air Force after passing certain exams. The Band takes part in worldwide music festivals and leads the 5th Avenue parade in New York dedicated to March 25th celebrations of the Greek expatriates. Major Alexandros Litsardopoulos is the conductor of the Band. The singers that will perform are Elena Orfanidi and Aggelos Mousikas.

The Museum will remain open from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight with free entry for all visitors from 9 p.m. onwards, giving visitors the opportunity to stroll through the galleries and enjoy the view of the Acropolis under the magical moonlight. The restaurant on the second floor will be open during the same hours.

The exciting spread in The Sunday Times Culture magazine (TIME TO RELEASE OUR GRIP ON THE ELGIN MARBLES Why the British Museum is ready to Bargain with Greece, July 31st) written by Sarah Baxter says it all.

Cast your eye over the breathtaking pictures from the ancient world and be filled with wonder at what we might get to see one day at The British Museum. But down below you’ll see two men smiling at their own cleverness: George Osborne and Boris Johnson embracing while clutching a glass of white, two men not known for their veracity in public life.

On their sense of fair play rests the fate of the Parthenon Marbles. George says ’There’s a deal to be done’ because he’s an unreconstructed wheeler-dealer; Boris says: ’They belong in the landscape of Achilles’ because in 1986 as a classics scholar he knew they did. That sense of justice has gone now. So, handy-dandy, who do you believe?

Until the British Museum Act of 1983 is amended there will be nothing to talk about. Both these men could do it, but remain relics of the Imperial age just like the British Museum. But public opinion embraces a new respect for all cultures, so one day the BM will find the courage to look reality in the eye, and make an honest arrangement with Greece to return the Parthenon’s Marbles.

Janet Suzman DBE (Chair: British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles) and Prof Paul Cartledge (vice-Chair BCRPM & IARPS)

Last Sunday, Sarah Baxter wrote an article on the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles and this article carried an online poll which closed on Friday the 5th of August at midnight. The results have been publlshed, and Sarah is justifyably thrilled, as are all those that have, and continue to campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles.

"The politics of restitution are often opaque — but not in the case of the Parthenon Marbles", writes Jan Dalley, Arts Editor of the Financial Times.

"Here we go again. The debate about the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum — should they, shouldn’t they be returned to Greece, where a sparkling purpose-built museum overlooking the Acropolis from which the sculptures were wrenched by Lord Elgin from 1801-05 sits waiting for them — seems to go on for ever." Continues Jan Dalley in Saturday's Opinion in the Life & Arts section of the paper.

She goes on to remind readers of Melina Mercouri's  1980's passionate appeal and remembers her colleague, Peter Aspden, now a BCRPM member: " And it was more than a decade ago that my then colleague Peter Aspden, himself half Greek and a fervent Returner, put forward in this paper a very considered practical plan which included loan and sharing arrangements, and an ownership structure that would save face all round. It could have saved an awful lot of trouble — but some people just won’t listen, will they?" Asks Jan Dalley.

It was perhaps the Director General of the Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis's response that made the difference in its robustness for Jan Dalley but because it emphasised that this is not only a strictly bilateral issue but at the same time it is a universal request: "it is a matter of international, western culture, not only of Europe but also . . . of all the democracies." Commented Professor Stampolidis.

To read Jan Dalley's article in the FT, follow the link here.