«An iconic cultural landmark meets an unparalleled historical landmark» (video)

The opening of the fully restored building complex of the National Gallery was marked by speeches by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and the Director of the National Gallery Marina Lambraki - Plaka.

«It is with great pride and emotion that I welcome you to Athens. To the 200th anniversary of the independence of Greece and to the inauguration of a jewel of the capital and of the whole country, the new National Gallery,» the Prime Minister said at the beginning of his speech.

He referred to «an emblematic cultural landmark that meets an unparalleled historical landmark» and mentioned historical facts about the National Gallery.

The Prime Minister also said that today's event sends a renewed message of dynamism at the dawn of Greece's third century of freedom. He said that the National Gallery was a living institution that contributed to the progress of the nation and its very history contributed to the history of the country, starting with Aegina in 1829 and Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias collecting the first works that formed the first nucleus for a future museum. He cited 1896 as an important milestone in its history when the scholar and jurist Alexandros Soutsos bequeathed his personal property and his personal collection to the public for the creation of the National Gallery. «Thus in 1900 the new Foundation was born, with the painter George Iakovidis as its first director».

Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed at this point that it is truly a great honour for him that «twelve years after the start of work on the New Gallery, it opens its doors for the first time one day before the 200th anniversary of the National Revolution». He pointed out that a tight schedule had been set, which was achieved thanks to the patience of the Ministry of Culture, the hard work of all the Ministry's staff, external collaborators and Greek philanthropy.

«Almost two centuries since its first acquisitions, the National Gallery is a treasury of 20,000 works,» the Prime Minister said, stressing that this is the first time that its permanent collection has been exhibited with such splendour. «It reflects the way in which the painting of modern Greece was influenced by all the currents of modernism without losing the particular characteristics of its tradition. Thus Kontoglou coexists harmoniously with Moralis and Lytras with Hadjikyriakos-Ghika. This wealth of Greece, this wealth of the world, will now be spread over 21,000 square metres with exhibition and storage areas for the precious collections, an amphitheatre, a library and state-of-the-art conservation workshops». Mitsotakis stressed that part of the cost was covered by significant private donations, the largest being that of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

«The new Art Gallery confirms its role as an ark of Greek art with international radiance, while highlighting its share in European culture. However, the anniversary of the beginning of the struggle for freedom and independence focuses our attention especially on 35 works charged with history,» the Prime Minister stressed, referring to works by Greek artists between 1858 and 1898 and to Eugene Delacroix's Episode of the Greek Struggle, his last contribution to the philhellenic movement and another testimony in favour of the revolution next to Ivan Aivazovsky's Burning of the Turkish Flagship.

He stressed that the Greece of the Greek revolution had British, French and Russian friends by its side, people who eventually led their governments to the Battle of Navarino and the Treaties of London, which finally secured national independence. «And those ties, along with our brotherly relationship with Cyprus, have not naturally dissolved over time,» the Prime Minister said.

In closing, Mitsotakis made a historical review with reference to the ties with the countries represented in this event and their cooperation as he said: «together we defeated the monster of Nazism by paying a heavy toll of blood during World War II. History wants us to be constant allies in the great battles of humanity and today we find ourselves side by side in front of Tetsis‘ ’People's Market», this iconic work that adorns the entrance to the new Gallery. It is a work dedicated to the daily communication of ordinary people, because ordinary people built modern Greece, with effort, tears, sweat and often blood, but always with hope.".

The Prime Minister concluded his statement with an appeal to the high friends of Greece: «Let us, in turn, respond to history by remaining partners in peace and in the new challenges that the future brings for all of us.».

Earlier, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotokis and his wife Mareva Grabovski-Mitsotaki welcomed the official guests at the new complex of the National Gallery, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the 1821 Revolution.

Among others, the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, accompanied by Pavlos Kotsonis, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, accompanied by his wife Andri Anastasiades, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Michael Mishustin, were present, Ambassador of the French Republic Patrick Mezonav, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Ambassador of the United Kingdom Kate Smith, President of the «Greece 2021» Committee Yanna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki with her husband Theodoros Angelopoulos, President of the Louvre Jean-Luc Martinez.

At 20:30 they will attend the official dinner hosted by the President of the Republic at the Presidential Palace. During the dinner, there will be an address by the President of the Hellenic Republic and counter speeches by the distinguished guests.