National Gallery of Athens Announces Landmark Democracy Exhibition this Summer 

11 July 2024 – 2 February 2025 

As nearly half the world goes to the polls in 2024 in a historic ‘year of elections’,  the National Gallery of Athens unveils a timely exhibition on art, social change, and  democracy. 

This will be the first major exhibition to explore artistic responses to the struggles  against authoritarian rule and pursuit of democracy in 1960s-70s Greece, Spain,  and Portugal. 

It will mark the 50th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece. • Featuring 140 works by 55 artists, brought together in collaboration with Museo  Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona,  Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian, Centro de Estudos Multidisciplinares Ernesto  de Sousa and private collections from Greece and Portugal. 

The National Gallery of Athens – Alexandros Soutsos Museum will present Democracy, a timely  new exhibition exploring the intersection of art and political history in Southern Europe. Running  from 11 July 2024 to 2 February 2025, this will be the first major international exhibition to focus  on the relationship between art and democracy during one of the most pivotal periods in Southern  European history, as Greece, Portugal, and Spain transitioned from authoritarian to democratic  rule. The exhibition will delve into how artists were inspired by and depicted the struggle against  the era’s dictatorial regimes, and the new cultural expressions that evolved during the pursuit for  civil liberties, including the rise of critical realism and abstract art, as well as the emergence of  performance and conceptual art.

The National Gallery of Athens aims to reflect on the current socio-political state of the world and  its resonance with the conflict and turmoil of 1960s and 1970s Southern Europe. Against the  backdrop of a bumper year of global elections and challenges to democratic values, the exhibition  will delve into shared cultural experiences, emotions, and trauma that shaped by disruption, acts  of protest, defiance, and resistance, that are just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago.  

Syrago Tsiara, Curator and Director of National Gallery of Athens says “We are proud to  present this landmark exhibition on Democracy and Art in Greece, Spain and Portugal. This  exhibition serves as a testament to the struggles for civil liberties and the anti-colonial fight, offering  a visual narrative of the quest for freedom against authoritarian regimes. At a time when democratic  achievements face renewed threats, this showcase of artistic responses becomes more vital than  ever, offering insight into the power of creativity in times of turmoil. With this exhibition the National  Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum continues its mission to bridge the past with the present,  fostering meaningful connections between our collections and the pressing issues of contemporary  society." 

The year 2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974.  Half a century of unbroken parliamentary democracy followed the overthrow of the seven-year  military dictatorship – a historic milestone that defines the beginning of the Metapolitefsi era in  Greece. In the same year, the Carnation Revolution in Portugal restored democracy after almost  half a century of António de Oliveira Salazar’s dictatorship, while November 1975 marked the death  of General Francisco Franco, bringing about the end of Spain’s Francoist Regime (1936–1975).  Inspired by the continuities, fissures, and upheavals from these three countries’ paths to  democratisation, the exhibition will explore the creative textures, colours, sounds, and  compositions as artists responded to the trauma of dictatorship, the demand for democratic rights,  and this period of radical transformation. 

The exhibition will examine the themes of ‘Resistance’, ‘Uprising’, and ‘Stimulation’ through diverse  artistic mediums, including sculpture, painting, engraving, posters, video, performance art, as well  as theatre and literature.  

‘Resistance’ will showcase artistic responses to the protests against repressive policies, and the  wrath and mourning of victims of political persecution. It includes ‘Facing the Enemy’, as artists  capture the protagonists of the dictatorial regimes and their avengers, the rebel heroes and angry  mothers that personified the uprisings. ‘Uprising’ will highlight moments of historical rupture and  discontinuity, such as the student reform movements and claim for democratic public space.  ‘Stimulation’ will focus on the body, gender and identity politics as the flowering of democracy  manifested through the individual body and collective body, celebrating participation, presence,  pleasure, sensuality and emancipation, through performance art, dance and conceptual art.  

The exhibition brings together 140 masterpieces by 55 artists, in collaboration with prestigious  Spanish and Portuguese institutions: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Museu d'Art  Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian (CAM), and Centro  de Estudos Multidisciplinares Ernesto de Sousa, as well as other private collections from Greece  and Portugal. It will showcase a diverse range of styles, perspectives, and practices, with highlights  including the distinctive "Boterismo" of Colombian artist Fernando Botero, known for his  voluminous, exaggerated figures that captivate viewers with their bold presence. Spanish artist  Equipo Crónica's thought-provoking social realism will offer a critical lens on contemporary issues,  while Portuguese artist Paula Rego's evocative figurative works will delve into the complexities of  power and gender dynamics. Greek artist Alexis Akrithakis will add a playful yet profound  dimension with his whimsical paintings, challenging traditional notions of art.  

Curated by National Gallery of Athens Director Syrago Tsiara, Democracy is a continuation of the  National Gallery of Athens recent exhibition Urbanograpy, which explored the transformation of the urban experience in the early post war decades. Tsiara is a renowned art historian and curator with  extensive experience in the relations between art, politics, memory and identity. The exhibition will  be accompanied by a dynamic programme, including a conference, public lectures, workshops,  book presentations, film screenings, and debates.