
Visual arts in Thessaloniki in the second half of the 20th century (1950-2000)
Markella-Elpida TSICHLA
The aim of this PhD dissertation is to investigate: a) the in-depth progress of the visual arts in the city of Thessaloniki, b) the historical and social conditions in which the artistic works were created, c) the analysis of the cultural data of the city, d) the intercultural examination of the artistic creation and e) the registration of the artistic works and the artistic potential active in Thessaloniki.
The up to date scientific research on Art in Thessaloniki, is distinguished by its fragmentary and epidermal character, since it is referred almost exclusively to individual artists and works that were accepted only by a particular public without anyone getting deeper to factors that played a significant role in the evolution of art and culture in the city. After the Great War, historical and social conditions were changed in Thessaloniki. Specifically we can refer to the refugee issue and the Macedonian topic, the intercultural character of the city, the historical factors, the new economic conditions, the urbanization, and the fact that Thessaloniki was considered to be the predominant city in northern Greece. These conditions combined with its primary intellectual development, also being so close to Mount Athos and its influence, as well as the cultural institutions that emerged dynamically in the city in the post-war years, strengthened a “profile” of intellectual autonomy, which promoted movements and actions having as main objective the projection of an artistic style with many peculiar characteristics and attributes. The “School of Thessaloniki”, which was the subject of a critical study in the field of literature, was a symptom of this perception of Thessaloniki’s role in the contemporary Greek culture and its significance to the history of the artistic modernism in modern Greece.
The expected results will be based, on one hand, on a horizontal examination of the visual events in combination with the historical and social facts and on the other hand on a correlation with the views of culture (literature, theater and cinema) that vertically compose the spiritual qualities of the city.
Advisory Committee
Iliana ZARRA, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (advisor)
Christos MERANTZAS, Associate Professor, University of Patras
Evi (Evangelia) SAMPANIKOU, Professor, University of the Aegean
Start date (academic year): 2017-18