Giannis Klinakis - Marathos Art Gallery
The Giannis Klinakis Art Gallery is located in the village of Marathos, which is 13 km from Tylissos and 14 km from Gazi. It is a sculpture exhibition created by the exquisite artist, which he had donated to his village shortly before he passed away. The collection of his works has been housed at this place since 2009. The specific space, in the past, used to be the oil mill of the village and was provided by the Agricultural Cooperative of Marathos.
Giannis Klinakis was born in Marathos in 1938. He worked as a farmer and worker in public works and dams, while in 1964, he moved to Athens with his family, where he worked as a builder. In 1969, he became involved in sculpture for the first time and worked alongside important sculptors. Initially, he worked in Memas Kalogeratos' foundry and then with Christos Capralos, whose work greatly influenced him. In fact, sculptor and painter Christos Kapralos (1909-1993) also donated some of his works to the village, and so, inside the Art Gallery, there is also the Christos Kapralos section.
In 1985, Giannis Klinakis set up his bronze works of art in Marathos, in the area of the Monument, creating a set of artistic works in memoriam for the Fallen and the National Resistance. It was the result of images that had been engraved on his soul since he was a young child when on August 21st, 1944, the Germans executed his father along with six other villagers.
The works of the sculptor present a series of Cretan anthropomorphic lyres, fighters of the revolution of 1821 and the National Resistance, as well as sculptures with a symbolic character (such as the work of "Slimy State"). The central element of the works on display is the human figure, created on materials such as metal, marble and wood. The elongation of the figures, the rough surfaces and the emphasis on the heroic-dramatic element characterise the sculptures as a whole. Apart from his birthplace, his works can be found in private collections in Greece and abroad.
(Visits by appointment)