Art, Greece, ancient and modern

 

 

Laying in bed, thinking about getting up, listening to the rain and re-thinking, well maybe not. I put the radio on and decided to stay put for a while.
The radio said; The Greek healthcare system is failing, some hospitals are running out of basic supplies, essential drugs are not always available, the pharmaceutical giant Roche has stopped delivering medications to some hospitals when they failed to settle bills on time. (Think on that if you have shares in Roche). The education system is falling apart, pensions have been slashed to a level where it is virtually impossible to live, unemployment has exceeded 22% which is a record high and still climbing. Unemployment in the 16-26 age group is even worse and has already topped 50%. Labour reforms demanded in the austerity package have reduced the minimum wage, (which was 750 euros per month), by 22%. For people under the age of 25 it was a 32% reduction..
In short………….the people of Greece are living in conditions more associated with developing countries than the cradle of civilization and the cultural home of the western world. The situation is way beyond the usual rhetoric of; it’s their own fault they are lazy’, ‘they should pay their taxes’, and ‘they all expected to retire at 50’ etc etc. Even if that were true, which personally I don’t believe it is, this is a tragedy. I wish there were something I could do apart from look on from a safe distance and feel horrified.

Greece has given us so much,

Where would western literature and philosophy be without  the ancient Athenians Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, seekers of truth and wisdom.
What sort of towns and cities would we have without the architecture from Ancient Greece.

One of the forerunners of all interior design must be the wall paintings of The Queen's Megaron, Palace of Knossos, Crete, c. 1,700 - 1,300 B.C. Imagine what sort of people these must have been to create these beautiful interiors that long ago.
I came across a Contemporary Greek painter who seems to delight in bright vibrant, colours that make me think of the Greek Islands. She is a multi talented woman who not only paints but is also, philosopher, translator and lecturer. A woman who would have been at home as an ancient Athenian.

Vassiliki Koskiniotou

http://www.koskiniotou.com/
Vassiliki Koskiniotou was born on 1968 in Athens, Greece, where she lives and works. Works by her can be found in private and public collections in Greece and other countries in Europe, in Cyprus, Australia, the United States of America and Japan.
In 2006 she attained her Degree with Honors in Visual Arts at the Athens School of Fine Arts, Department of Visual Arts and Printing,
2002 was her Postgraduate Seminar in Philosophy of Art at the  University of Athens
1990, Diploma with Honours in Translation, Institut Français d’ Athènes
1989, Degree in French Literature, the Athens School of Philosophy, University of Athens
1990 - 1999; Has translated a Dorling Kindersley "Eyewitness Art" series of books for the Greek publishing houses Delithanassis and Erevnites.
She has worked as a freelance bilingual translator (from French and English) and as a cultural editor for the newspapers "H Kathimerini" and "To Vima"

And you don’t need to be Greek to enjoy the essence of Greece.

delete reply cleaunz wrote on Jun 17 mitchylr said One of my fave composer/musicians really cool Mitch!

Comment deleted at the request of the author.

delete reply cleaunz wrote on Jun 17 really nice post this one!! so many different art! The Vassiliki Koskiniotou work is just beautiful - particulary the colours! Just beautiful. I do not really know what to say about the greek situation except that paying taxes does help keep the county alive and that much of what Greece faces is self inflicted but too so many innocents have to pay. Maybe this is the makings of another new and mighty Greece!!

delete reply artprevails wrote on Jun 17 Nice post and insight as to the gifts given to the Universe by Greek culture and wisdom. The situation in Greece is disturbing to say the least...

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jun 17 i am hoping :)

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 nemo4sun said he restricting of resources only leads to atrophy and hopelessness for growth one needs to use resources in a prudent manner to ensure continued growth assigning blame and scapegoating will lead to trouble and reactionary actions that can escalate to unknown horror yep..............seems to me we are saying the same thing. Maybe after these elections things will start to get better. Who ever is elected I think they will have to re-negotiate the austerity measures because no matter who is in power the country can't take any more. Lets hope for better things :-)

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jun 17 forgetmenot525 said I agree 100%, austerity is cruel and counter productive, it will lead to more and more hardship and more and more resentment. I would rather we help rebuild this country than push it further and further into real poverty. the restricting of resources only leads to atrophy and hopelessness for growth one needs to use resources in a prudent manner to ensure continued growth assigning blame and scapegoating will lead to trouble and reactionary actions that can escalate to unknown horror :)

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 veryfrank said I have to agree. Ancient Greece - absolutely one of my favorite subjects and historical journey. Loved seeing so much first hand several times. Thank you for the art. I too love Greece, I've only been a couple of times and I so much want to go back. There is so much I want to see and do in Greece, I love the art, the music, the architecture, the culture, the history and the people.............its all so sad.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 nemo4sun said mposed austerity does not work such hardships on the people will lead to desperation remember the conditions after WWI that lead to WWII we are forgetting the marshall plan and the success it had that generation is gone I agree 100%, austerity is cruel and counter productive, it will lead to more and more hardship and more and more resentment. I would rather we help rebuild this country than push it further and further into real poverty.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 starfishred said actually the Germans have a really good work program for any Greeks that want to come up and work here that sounds very generous, but maybe the money would be better spent on providing work programmes and supporting desperate communities in Greece. Most Greek people love their country and would only consider working away from home if the conditions at home were totally unbearable. Surly the money is better spent helping to rebuild their own country, not in work programmes outside of Greece.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Jun 17 I have to agree. Ancient Greece - absolutely one of my favorite subjects and historical journey. Loved seeing so much first hand several times. Thank you for the art.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jun 17 forgetmenot525 said I hope so Nemo, I really hope so. The whole thing worries me, I'm appalled at the consequences of this so called 'austerity being imposed on Greece, it makes me wonder what sort of people would deliberately impose these conditions on another country. And if Greece does survive, what sort of anger will they carry as a nation...........the whole thing is such a mess. imposed austerity does not work such hardships on the people will lead to desperation remember the conditions after WWI that lead to WWII we are forgetting the marshall plan and the success it had that generation is gone :)

delete reply starfishred wrote on Jun 17 forgetmenot525 said I don't think they do blame the Germans for their problems, but I do think they see the extreme austerity measures imposed from Europe (that have caused such hardship) as being German led. oh I know loretta --but when you have no money left what do you do-- actually the Germans have a really good work program for any Greeks that want to come up and work here and actually if it wasn't for our chancelor the rest of the EC would have cut the Greeks of a long time ago soo it is sad really sad

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 kathyinozarks said excellent post Loretta! thanks kethy

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 starfishred said I feel for them but I wish they would stop blaming the Germans I don't think they do blame the Germans for their problems, but I do think they see the extreme austerity measures imposed from Europe (that have caused such hardship) as being German led.

delete reply starfishred wrote on Jun 17 I feel for them but I wish they would stop blaming the Germans for all their problems their problems are very deep rooted and how this new election is supposed to help only the Gods know--if they leave the EURO they will be of a lot worse they they ever thought of--if tje Communist wins he wants to hire a ton of people on the government --which is dumb cause their gov. is totaly over bloated already and they have no money if they go to the Drachma they will see hyperinflation and soon will have no goods in their stores and like the Hospitals don't pay their bills and that will be accelarated sad story

delete reply kathyinozarks wrote on Jun 17 excellent post Loretta!

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jun 17 Oh, BTW, unrelated to this post.....got some new photos posted, if you feel like a look :-))

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jun 17 forgetmenot525 said without them we would all be so much less. Absolutely!!

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 But no one can take away their legacy.............without them we would all be so much less.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 Oh silly me................yes of course I like Vangelis but it never occurred to me that he was Greek..........nice video Mitch.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 mitchylr said It's just a part of the legacy of the failed experiement called the Eurozone. I think you're right, if I were Greek I think I would be looking at reverting to the drachma, devaluing and writing of the debts. But I don't think the rest of the Euorocrats would be happy with that.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jun 17 I've always been a big fan of classical Greek architecture and art, but I rather like some of the more modern stuff you've posted here too!! One of my fave composer/musicians is also Greek, you may have heard of him:

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17 nemo4sun said greece will survive ~ and maybe show the way again lovely works all :) I hope so Nemo, I really hope so. The whole thing worries me, I'm appalled at the consequences of this so called 'austerity being imposed on Greece, it makes me wonder what sort of people would deliberately impose these conditions on another country. And if Greece does survive, what sort of anger will they carry as a nation...........the whole thing is such a mess.

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Jun 17 Greece is definitely on my bucket list.perfectly done as always, Loretta. i love the music too. thank you.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jun 17 I sure hope nemo is right. What beautiful art work - both the ancient and modern, not to mention how much fun everyone is having with the music.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jun 17 greece will survive ~ and maybe show the way again lovely works all :)

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jun 17 I have to agree with you Loretta, it is sad to see a country with such a cultural heritage, not just for itself, but for all of modern western society, come to this. It's just a part of the legacy of the failed experiement called the Eurozone. They're going to the polls in Greece today faced with a choice I'd call the 'devil's alternative'. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Rather puts the UK's groaning about austerity into perspective.