Takis
Encyclopedia
Vassilakis Takis is an artist living in Greece. Adopted by France, his works can be found in many public locations in and around Paris
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1950–1960
1960–1970
1970–1980
1980–1990
1990–2000
2000–
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
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Life and work
1940–1950- 1936-1941: His childhood and teen years coincide with the dictatorship of MetaxasIoannis MetaxasIoannis Metaxas was a Greek general, politician, and dictator, serving as Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death in 1941...
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 DelphiDelphiDelphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
. - 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 radarRadarRadar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
and the technological landscape of the station of CalaisCalaisCalais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, 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 ParisMusée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de ParisMusée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is the City of Paris Museum of Modern Art dedicated to the arts of the 20th/21st centuries. It is located at 11 Avenue du Président Wilson in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.-Description:...
. - 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. Becomes father of a daughter Anna, with English artist Sheila FellSheila FellSheila Fell was an English artist. She was born at Aspatria, Cumberland in 1931, and although she lived in London for the greater part of her life, she devoted her career to painting and drawing places close to her place of birth...
. - 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 African poet Sinclair BeilesSinclair BeilesSinclair Beiles - was a South African beat poet and editor for Maurice Girodias at the Olympia Press in Paris. He developed along with William S...
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 patentPatentA patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
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 Juilliard publishing house. His Sculptures Télémagnétiques go on show at the Art Gallery of Alexandros IolasAlexander IolasAlexander Iolas or Alexandre Iolas was a Greek - American gallerist and collector....
in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(which remains his dealer until 1976). Meets Marcel DuchampMarcel DuchampMarcel Duchamp was a French artist whose work is most often associated with the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. Considered by some to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Duchamp's output influenced the development of post-World War I Western art...
in the USA. - 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. - 1962: Becomes father of a son, Thanos Vassilakis, with American artist Liliane LijnLiliane LijnLiliane Lijn , is a prominent American-born artist who was the first woman artist to work with kinetic text , exploring both light and text as early as 1962...
. - 1963: Takis creates his first musical in collaboration with Earle BrownEarle BrownEarle Brown was an American composer who established his own formal and notational systems...
. It is entitled the "Sound of Void" and is exhibited one year later in Cordier-Ekstrom Gallery in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
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 GalleryIndica GalleryIndica Gallery was a counterculture art gallery in Mason's Yard , St. James's, London, England during the late 1960s, in the basement of the Indica Bookshop co-owned by John Dunbar, Peter Asher and Barry Miles...
in London. The New ScientistNew ScientistNew Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
magazine in an article entitled "The sounds of tomorrow" comments that Takis, Yiannis Xenakis and John CageJohn CageJohn Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
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 ParisMusée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de ParisMusée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is the City of Paris Museum of Modern Art dedicated to the arts of the 20th/21st centuries. It is located at 11 Avenue du Président Wilson in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.-Description:...
. - 1968-1969: Settles in Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, USA 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 perpetual moving bicycle wheel of Marcel DuchampMarcel DuchampMarcel Duchamp was a French artist whose work is most often associated with the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. Considered by some to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Duchamp's output influenced the development of post-World War I Western art...
". 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 MOMAMomaMoma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...
in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 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 New York Times. Takis along with other artists as well as art critics like Nicolas CalasNicolas CalasNicolas Calas was the pseudonym of Nikos Kalamaris , a Greek-American poet and art critic. While living in Greece, he also used the pseudonyms Nikitas Randos and M...
establish the Art Workers Coalition group to defend the artists' rights. He inspired a group of people to start a chip company of the same name.
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 Nederlands Dans Theater. - Théâtre de l'Odéon 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 PalestineCharlemagne PalestineCharlemagne Palestine is an American minimalist composer, performer, and visual artist...
at the Musée RathMusée RathThe Musée Rath is an art museum in Geneva, used exclusively for temporary exhibitions. It is the oldest purpose-built art museum in Switzerland....
in GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. - Kölnischer Kunstverein, performance with Nam June PaikNam June PaikNam June Paik was a Korean American artist. He worked with a variety of media and is considered to be the first video artist....
in CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
inspired by Takis's Espace Musical.
1980–1990
- 1981: "3 totems- Espace Musical" at the Forum of the Centre Georges PompidouCentre Georges PompidouCentre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
. - 1983: Takis creates the music and the stage design for SophoclesSophoclesSophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
' Electra directed by Michael Kakoyannis, in EpidaurusEpidaurusEpidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the peripheral unit of Argolis...
. - 1984: Participates in the exhibition "The Century of Kafka" at the Centre Georges PompidouCentre Georges PompidouCentre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
. - 1985: The Centre Georges PompidouCentre Georges PompidouCentre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
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 RathMusée RathThe Musée Rath is an art museum in Geneva, used exclusively for temporary exhibitions. It is the oldest purpose-built art museum in Switzerland....
, in GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. - The "Research Center for the Art and the Sciences" is founded in AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. - 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 m2 (26,840 sq ft) for a forest of 76 Signaux 3.50 to 9.50 m. (11.4 to 31 feet) high.
- 1988: Wins the French Grand Prix for Sculpture. - Creates a signal for the SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
Olympic park. - "JocastaJocastaIn Greek mythology, Jocasta, also known as Jocaste , Epikastê, or Iokastê was a daughter of Menoeceus and Queen consort of Thebes, Greece. She was the wife of Laius. Wife and mother of Oedipus by Laius, and both mother and grandmother of Antigone, Eteocles, Polynices and Ismene by Oedipus...
": performance and exhibition "Electra 88", 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 AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Five Aeolian Signals ornament UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's garden. - The Ministry of Greek Culture, Melina MercouriMelina MercouriMelina Mercouri , born as Maria Amalia Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer and politician.As an actress she made her film debut in Stella and met international success with her performances in Never on Sunday, Phaedra, Topkapi and Promise at Dawn...
, 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 BiennaleVenice BiennaleThe Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
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 AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
2000–
- 2000: The Barcelona Museum de Contemporary Art (MACBA) and the Hayward GalleryHayward GalleryThe Hayward Gallery is an art gallery within the Southbank Centre, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames, in central London, England. It is sited adjacent to the other Southbank Centre buildings and also the Royal National Theatre and British Film Institute...
in London put Takis' artworks on show. - Takis exposes his "solar energy sculpture" in Delphi. - 2001: The European ParliamentEuropean ParliamentThe European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
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 AthinaART ATHINAART - ATHINA is an annual international contemporary art fair that takes place in Athens. The first ART-ATHINA was organized in 1993, making it one of the oldest contemporary art fairs in Europe....
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 AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. - 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 SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(Galleria Credito Siciliano) and Milan (Galleria Gruppo). - The Olympic Games2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens inspired Takis to exhibit his "Olympic Spirals" and "Aeolian Signals " in the National GlyptothequeNational GlyptothequeNational Glyptotheque is a sculpture museum located in Athens, Greece. It is an annex of the National Gallery of Greece. The museum was established in 2004 and became the first National Glyptotheque of Greece. It houses a permanent collection of Greek sculpture from the 19th and the 20th centuries...
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 Musée d'art contemporain du Val-de-MarneMusée d'Art Contemporain du Val-de-MarneThe Musée d'Art Contemporain du Val-de-Marne, nicknamed MAC/VAL, is a museum of contemporary art located in the Place de la Libération in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, a suburb of Paris, France. It is open daily except Mondays; an admission fee is charged.The museum opened in 2005, and is...
. - He puts out of use four of his "Musicals" exhibited in AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
by the Bonham's auction house. He manages that these are not sold by auction in London. - 2005: "Solar Magnetic Fields" exhibition at Stavros Mihalarias Art Center in Athens.