Yanoulis Halepas: The sculpture’s highest lesson

In the “Halepas – The sculpture’s highest lesson” exhibition, curated by Alexandra Goulaki-Voutyra, the total of Halepas’ surviving works from his first and second period in Tinos (1918-1930) are collected at large, granting us the unique opportunity to witness the unfolding of his creative trail in Athens, with more than 30 works that mark his third artistic period and are part of the Onassis Foundation Collection.

Principally however, with this exhibition, we are able to finer comprehend the great turn that the artist made in his work when he resumed his artistic practice on the island; to further realize the urgency of the material, as well as the obstacles that led to the formulation of the “novel” Halepas’ plastic language.

Following the “Yanoulis Halepas: Debits and Credits” exhibition, held in the spring of 2022 at the Teloglion Foundation of Arts in Thessaloniki, in collaboration with the Onassis Foundation, the works of the eminent sculptor travel to his birthplace, the place where he lived and drew inspiration, devising as such an exhibition that is primed to cover a significant expanse of his artistic creation. Belonging to the Onassis Foundation Collection, the works presented for the first time include the iconic work “Oedipus and Antigone” – his first work following his relocation to Athens –, two attempts on the theme “Satyr Playing with Eros” (no. Χ, 1931; and ΧΙΙ, 1936), the portrait of his niece Eftychia, bearing the artist’s self-portrait on the sculpture’s verso, and the “Sleeping Beauty” from the Strefis model (1937), among others.

The Onassis Foundation could not but be present on this occasion, dictated moreover by the substantial portion of works at its disposal: a large set of sculptures, drawings, preliminary models, and casts from the most significant collection regarding the sculptor of his nephew, Vassilios, and niece, Irini, who hosted him in their Athens home between 1930-1938.

“With the kind loan of works to Tinos courtesy of the Onassis Foundation, we are rekindling the interest in a great modernist of his era. We partake as such in a dialogue between momentous works so that the visitor can stand as its ultimate recipient. It is a debt of honor to him, his birthplace, and the folk tradition within which he created. To Yanoulis Halepas’ Tinos, we offer a piece of his very own ‘donation,’ thanks to the exemplary collaboration with the Cultural Foundation of Tinos and the inestimable contribution of curator Alexandra Goulaki-Voutyra. To both, we owe special gratitude and our sincerest respect.” – Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Foundation.

The exhibition is under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakelallaropoulou, and is organized by the Cultural Foundation of Tinos, with the support of the Onassis Foundation and the cooperation of the Teloglion Foundation of Arts of AUTh.