The international magazine “9 Muses”, in collaboration with the Cultural Center of Panormos Tinos “Giannoulis Halepas”, organized a Symposium of Marble Sculpture in Tinos, with European artists in the framework of the 3rd International Festival of Intellectuals and Artists. The Marble Sculpture Symposium was held under the auspices of the Municipality of Tinos and took place in Pyrgos and Panormos. It ran from September 17th to September 28th 2016 and featured four Sculptors, Janis Strupulis from Latvia, Paul Huybrechts from Belgium, Algirdas Bosas from Lithuania and Stanislav Netsvolodof from Estonia.
Antonis Hondrogiannis, Ioannis Hondrogiannis, Paul Huybrechts and Janis Strupulis in our workshop.
The work of the Marble Sculpture Symposium began on September 17th, when the artists settled in the marble sculpture workshops in the area. Our workshop hosted Janis Strupulis and Paul Huybrechts. Stanislav Netsvolodof and Algirdas Bosas were hosted in the labs of Lambros Diamantopoulos and Makis Trigonis respectively. Earlier, the sculptors had chosen the marble they wanted to sculpt in Mr. Karagiannis’s marble factory.
The artists crafted their works, showing a special zeal for marble sculpture. They sculpted the material daily, trying to transfer their emotions on the marble, creating their own sculpture. In a welcoming atmosphere of co-operation and co-existence, they exchanged views of various subjects of technical nature with our marble sculptors and discussed culture, the arts and society in general. After twelve days of work, they completed their projects, which they handed over to the public during the closing ceremony.
Left: The Artistic Director of the International Festival of Intellectuals and Artists, Janis Strupulis, creates his work.
Right: Paul Huybrechts shows us the sculpture he designed.
The two marble artists pose with their creations.
The closing ceremony of the Marble Sculpture Symposium took place in the hall of the Cultural Center of Panormos Tinos “Giannoulis Halepas” on September 28th. The program of the event was opened by Monique Huybrechts, with classical piano sounds. The Vice President of the Cultural Center Mr. Manolis Sohos welcomed the artists, sculptors and marble sculptors, as well as the public and thanked them for their participation. He emphasized, along with Ethnologist-Folklore Mr. Alekos Florakis, the great importance of including Tinian marble in the Unesco Intangible World Heritage List. Afterwards, the president of the International Congress of Intellectuals and Artists and editor-in-chief of “9 Muses” magazine, Irina Tsotaze-Anastasiadis, introduced the artists to the public. They, happy for the experiences they lived, greeted, thanked the marble sculptors for the hospitality and handed over their works to the public. The artistic director of the symposium Janis Strupulis, invited the Tinian Marble Sculptors to an International Sculpture Symposium, which is going to be held in 2017.
Marble Sculptor Antonis Hondrogiannis noted that this collaboration shows that love for art can unite different people from around the world, delivering excellent results that bring joy and emotion to both the artists themselves and the public who enjoys their work. The event closed with Monique Huybrechts entertaining the audience with classical music she has composed herself and which she dedicated to the marble sculptors.
Left: Ms. Irina Tsotaze – Anastasiadis presents the artists.
Right: Vice President of the Panormos Cultural Center of Tinos Mr. Manolis Sohos, accepts honorably the artists’ sculptures.
Marble Sculptor Antonis Hondrogiannis talks about the beautiful collaboration he had with the two sculptors.
We thank the Municipality of Tinos, the Cultural Center of Panormos Tinos “Giannoulis Halepas” and the “9 Muses” magazine for this event. It is a special honor for us to be a part of it. We wish the International Sculpture Symposium to become an institution and to be held every year, highlighting the artistic tradition and culture of our country. Thanks to Janis Strupulis for the invitation. We are very proud to continue the tradition of Tinian Marble Sculpture, and we hope, like our ancestors, that we, too, will pass this tradition on to future generations as worthy followers.
Monique Huybrechts on piano
Female form – Work by Paul Huybrechts
Maria Callas – Work by Janis Strupulis
Aeolos – Work by Algirdas Bosas
Left: Stanislav Netsvolodof, Right: Algirdas Bosas
Left: Lambros Diamantopoulos, Right: Makis Trigonis
Paul Huybrechts, Ioannis Hondrogiannis, Gabriella Hondrogiannis, Antonis Hondrogiannis, Monique Huybrechts, Janis Strupulis.