Takis 950159 219237823 2008-06-14T06:48:59Z Ferengi 3383909 '''Vassilakis Takis''' (born [[October 25]], [[1925]]) is a notable [[artist]] living in [[Greece]]. Adopted by [[France]], his works can be found in many public locations in and around [[Paris]]. === Life and work === '''1940-1950''' * [[1936]]-[[1941]]: His childhood and teen years coincide with the dictatorship of [[Metaxas]] and the [[Axis occupation of Greece]]. * [[1942]]-[[1946]]: His political involvement as leader of [[EPON]] results in a six month prison sentence. - He discovers [[Picasso]] and [[Giacometti]]. - Starts creating plaster busts. '''1950-1960''' * [[1952]]: Together with [[Minos Argyrakis]] and [[Raymondos]] he builds a small studio in [[Anakassa]]. - He creates the ''Quatre Soldats'', a plaster sculpture depicting four marching soldiers. - Participates in the first "International Exhibition" in [[Delphi]]. * [[1954]]: Departs for Paris. - Discovers Egyptian sculpture. - Starts making sculptures out of forged iron: ''Oedipus and Antigone]', ''Sphinx and Eidolon''. * [[1955]]: Influenced by the invention of the [[radar]] and the technological landscape of the station of [[Calais]], he constructs his first [[Signaux]]. - First one-man show abroad: "Figures of plaster and iron" at the [[Hanover Gallery]] in [[London]]. * [[1956]]: The Signaux become kinetic, are flexible and resemble electric aerials. - Participates in the "First International Exhibition of the Plastic Arts at the [[Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris]]. * [[1957]]: The Signaux are transformed into ''Signaux Feux d'Artifice''. With those ''Feux d'Artifice'', he performs happenings on the streets and squares of Paris thus anticipating future "Street Art" performances. - Creates his first bronze spheres which he calls Espaces Intérieurs and the first bronze Plants. * [[1958]]: Discovers the magnetic fields which will constitute the basis of his oeuvre. * [[1959]]: A nail tied to a nylon string is suspended in mid air by the attraction of a magnet: this is the first of the ''télémagnétiques'' sculptures of Takis. Alain Jouffroy calls it ''Télésculpture''. '''1960-1970''' * [[1960]]: Performance at the [[Iris Clert Gallery]] in [[Paris]] under the title ''The impossible: man within space''. The [[South Africa]]n poet [[Sinclair Beiles]] reads his magnetic manifesto: "I am a sculpture...I would like to see all nuclear bombs on Earth turned into sculptures" and throws himself into the air momentarily suspended by the magnetic field of a magnet attached to his belt. - The [[French Ministry of Industry]] awards him a [[patent]] for a ''Télésculpture'' and a ''Télésculpture électromagnetique''. - He consorts with the "beat" writers. - He experiments with the ''Ballets Magnétiques''. * [[1961]]: His autobiography ''Estafilades'' is published by the [[The Juilliard School|Juilliard]] publishing house. His ''Sculptures Télémagnétiques'' go on show at the Art Gallery of Alexandros Iolas in [[New York]] (which remains his dealer until 1976). Meets [[Marcel Duchamp]] in the [[US]]. - Murs Magnétiques, Télépeintures: Magnets hidden behind the flat fabric surface attract objects hung from nylon strings. - ''Télélumières'': The usual function of cathode tubes is reversed; blue light is emitted. * [[1963]]: Takis creates his first musical in collaboration with [[Earl Brown]]. It is entitled the "Sound of Void" and is exhibited one year later in [[Cordier-Ekstrom Gallery]] in [[New York]] in an exposition under the title “For Eyes and Ears”. The "Sound of Void" is the predecessor of the Musical Sculpture . * [[1964]]: Construction of the "Research Center for the Art and the Sciences" in [[Gerovouno]] begins. * [[1965]]: First Sculptures Musicales. * [[1966]]: [[Cadrans]]. - Takis’s Electro-musical relief at [[Indica Gallery]] in [[London]]. The ''[[New Scientist]]'' magazine in an article entitled "The sounds of tomorrow" comments that Takis, [[Yiannis Xenakis]] and [[John Cage]] are the most promising musicians of the century (article issued on [[December 22]], [[1966]]). * [[1967]]: Participates in the "Light and Motion" exhibition at the [[Musée d' Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris]]. * [[1968]]-[[1969]]: Settles in [[M.I.T.]] as visiting researcher and begins creating the series of Sculptures électromagnétiques. - Takis's invention ''Sculpture hydromagnétique'' is the result of his research at M.I.T. Liquid is suspended due to electromagnetic forces. - "Sea Oscillation Hydrodynamics", Takis's second figment is inspired by the "the perpetual moving bicycle wheel of [[Marcel Duchamp]]". The oscillation of the sea is used to produce electricity. - In [[January 1969]] during the exhibition "The machine as seen at the end of the mechanical age", at the [[MOMA]] in [[New York]], Takis storms into the museum and removes one of his Télésculptures which he claims, is being exhibited without his permission. The artist considers this action as a symbolic one which will help the initiation of a more profound dialogue between museum directors, artists and the public. The incident makes the front page of the [[New York Times]]. Takis along with other artists as well as art critics like [[Nicolas Calas]] establish the "Art Workers Coalition" group to defend the artists' rights. '''1970-1980''' * [[1972]]: Retrospective at the ''Centre National d' Art Contemporain'' in [[Paris]]. * [[1973]]: Holland Festival Ballet: Takis's Light Signals and Sound Sculptures form the stage setting and inspire the choreography of [[Jaap Flier]]'s dance group "Elkesis" of the [[Netherlands]] [[Dans Theatrer]]. - [[Theatre de l' Odeon]] in Paris: Cacoyiannis directs the [[Vacantes]] while Takis composes the performance's music. * [[1974]]: The first Espace Musical goes on exhibition at the Kunstverein in Hanover. - First Sculptures Erotiques. - Takis composes the music for [[Costas Gavras]]' film Section Speciale. * [[1977]]: Participates in the [[Kassel Documenta VI]] exhibiting an [[Espace Musical]]. * [[1979]]: Performance with [[Charlemagne Palestine]] at the [[Musée Rath]] in [[Geneva]]. - ''Kolnischer Kunstverein'', performance with [[Nam June Paik]] in [[Cologne]] inspired by Takis's ''Espace Musical''. '''1980-1990''' * [[1981]]: "3 totems- Espace Musical" at the Forum of the [[Centre Georges Pompidou]]. * [[1983]]: Takis creates the music and the stage design for [[Sophocles]]' Electra directed by [[Michael Kakoyannis]], in [[Epidaurus]]. * [[1984]]: Participates in the exhibition "The Century of Kafka" at the [[Centre Georges Pompidou]]. * [[1985]]: The [[Centre Georges Pompidou]] orders a [[Mur Magnétique]] for the entrance to the Galeries Contemporaines. - First prize at the [[Paris Biennale]]. * [[1986]]: "Parallel Erotic Line": a performance with Joelle Leandre (musician) and Martha Zioga (dancer) at the [[Musée Rath]], in [[Geneva]]. - The "Research Center for the Art and the Sciences" is founded in [[Athens]]. * [[1987]]: The defence public authority grants Takis the use of the largest space that has ever been given to any artist in the history of [[Paris]]: 3,500 m<sup>2</sup> (26,840 sq ft) for a forest of 39 Signaux 3.50 to 9.50 m. (11.4 to 31 feet) high. * [[1988]]: Wins the French [[Wiktionary:Grand Prix|Grand Prix]] for Sculpture. - Creates a Signal for the [[Seoul]] Olympic park. - "[[Jocasta]]": performance in [[Stavros Mihalarias]]' Art Center. Takis designs the costumes, composes the music, sets the scenery and directs the performance. '''1990-2000''' * [[1990]]: Commissioned for Signaux lumineux for the ''Grande Arche de la Défense''. - Takis's representative works at galerie [[Xippas]] in [[Paris]]. - "Isidos Awakening": performance with [[Barbara Maurothalasiti]]. * [[1992]]: Transforms the Beauvais waterworks into a 65 m (211 feet) musical sculpture. * [[1993]]: Retrospective at the ''Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume''. - Inauguration of K.E.T.E. in [[Athens]]. Five [[Aeolian]] Signals ornament [[UNESCO]]'s garden. - The [[Ministry of Greek Culture]], [[Melina Merkouri]], qualified them as "totems of the 21st century". - [[French Republic]] honors Takis with the special edition of a stamp depicting Takis' spiral. * [[1994]]: The ''Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume'' exhibition is shown at the [[School for Fine Arts in Athens]]. * [[1995]]: Takis is elected to represent [[Greece]] at the 46th [[Venice Biennale]] where he declares: "I am a citizen of the world" and "annuls" the Greek pavilion as a symbolic gesture of the annulment of frontiers in art; choosing to exhibit in the open space before the pavilion. * [[1999]]: The [[Attiko Metro]] authority commissions the creation of a work for the [[Fix station]] in [[Athens]]. '''2000-''' * [[2000]]: The [[Barcelona Museum de Contemporary Art]] (MACBA) and the [[Hayward Gallery]] in London put Takis' artworks on show. - Takis exposes his "solar energy sculpture" in Delphi. * [[2001]]: The [[European Parliament]] awards the "Research Center for the Art and the Sciences" an Honorary Plaque for its contribution to the field of renewable energy sources. - Takis donates three signals for the permanent collection of [[Centre Pompidou]] in [[Paris]]. The signals are placed in the terrace of the building in the 5th floor. Four years later, the picture of the three artworks is used for [[Centre Pompidou's]] Christmas card. - The galerie Xippas exhibits Takis's artworks within the framework of manifestations for the [[Art Athina]] 2001 project. * [[2003]]: Takis participates in the exhibition "Music Mirrors - History Conscience" commissioned by the Company for the Creation of a New Building for the Greek Lyric Stage and Academy - "[[Maria Kallas]]". He offers a "musical" as a symbolic gesture for the New Greek Opera. - Takis's "Ligne paralléle vibrative" (1972) and "Colonne magnétique" (2003) are presented at [[Xippas gallery]] in [[Athens]]. - Exhibition at the European Cultural Center of Delphi: Takis participates with the "Dedication to Apollo (study 1)". * [[2004]]: The "Musical Spheres" are displayed in the Atomium's exposition "en equilibre et en movement". - Takis new work "the Music of Spheres: Musical Space 1" is shown in Larissa Contemporary Art Center in Greece. - "Magnetic Walls", "Aeolian Signals", "Antigravity Spheres" and "Musical Spheres" are exposed in one art show in [[Sicily]] ([[Galleria Credito Siciliano]]) and Milan (Galleria Gruppo). - The [[Olympic Games]] in Athens inspired Takis to exhibit his "Olympic Spirals" and "Aeolian Signals " in the [[National Glyptotheque]] as well as in the exhibition "Athens by Art" organized by the Athenian municipality. Takis's poster inspired from the [[Athens 2004 games]] and commissioned by the [[Musee d'art contemporain Val-de-Marnais]]. - He puts out of use four of his "Musicals" exhibited in [[Athens]] by the [[Bonhams Auction House]]. He manages that these are not sold by auction in [[London]]. ==External links== * [http://www.takissculpture.com/ Takis official website] ==References== * [http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/4ed0b0bd878eaf2a.html Busch, Julia M.; ''A Decade of Sculpture: the New Media in the 1960's'' (The Art Alliance Press: Philadelphia] *[http://www.aupresses.com/ Associated University Presses]: [[London]], 1974) ISBN 0-87982-007-1 [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Greek artists]] [[Category:Greek sculptors]] [[el:Τάκις]]