When the new Museum of the Acropolis opened its doors to the public this past summer, all the challenges, delays, and controversies it had endured seemed to evaporate with its magnificance.  The challenges were numerous, too many to mention all.  Surprises at the onset included the findings of an early Christian neighborhood when the first excavations took place.  Others involved ideological struggles such its proximity to the Parthenon, the understanding of archeology, the demolition of high-rises, who could compete for its design, who was given the assignment to build, the list was endless.  In the end it was Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and his Greek partner Michael Photiadis that gave us this magnificent building, in quiet conversation with the Parthenon and more importantly, visitors can finally enjoy in natural light not only the old exhibits from the old museum but new and exciting ones from surrounding antiquities such as the Erechethion, Temple of Athena Nike, Propylaea, as well as from recent Roman and early Christian Athens. 

As if to celebrate this new museum, the city of Athens at the moment is inundated by some of the most exciting exhibits taking place in Europe…if not the world!  From Edgar Dega's sculptures at the Heraklidon Museum in Thession to Cy Twombly at the Gagosian Gallery in Kolonaki, with these first-ever shows across the city:

Yiannis Tsarouchis at the Benaki on Pireos.  Finally, twenty years after his death, the Benaki in collaboration with the Tsarouchis Foundation are exhibiting 680 of Tsarouchis' works, from the earliest to those done just before his death.  What a feast for the eyes…and ears since there are many videos shown with Tsarouchis singing and dancing zeibekika, or chanting the liturgy of Ioannis of Chryssstomos.  The exhibit shows the diversity and magnificence of Tsarouchis’ work.

Professor Aristomenis Varoudakis giving a tour to her Excellency the Ambassador of Canada to Greece Dr. Renata Wielgosz

Just two floors up from Tsarouchis’ show there is the mid-career exhibit of two of Greece’s most innovative architects—the brothers Varoudakis from Chania, Crete.  Aristomenes and George Varoudakis—Architectural Dialogues with the Cretan Landscape follows how the brothers adapted international trends and theories to create the most “Mediterranean” of homes across Crete, homes that sit perfectly within the landscape while exhibiting the many cultures that have left their mark on Crete.  Aristomenes has been a valued associate in all things Cretan over the years, but more importantly, he is a most dear friend!  Ke is anotera!

Across town at the Cycladic Museum a ground-breaking exhibition of ancient Greek artifacts entitled Eros, the Art of Love in Antiquity: from Hesiod to 4th c. A.D.  Statues, vases, cups and other objects depicting gods and mortals alike enjoying sexual encounters that would shock many contemporaries.  Food for thought, and a feast for the eyes.

Across the street from the Cycladic Museum at the Byzantine and Christian Museum, another pioneering and iconoclastic exhibit—it presents portraits by Andy Warhol along side Byzantine icons from their permanent collection in ways that provoke the viewers to compare and contrast portraiture: portraits infused with religiosity and those infused with fame…is there a difference?  Kudos to the exhibition’s curator Paul Moorhouse!