Georges Ioannou: Inner Journey

Explosions, bright colours, irony and wit. The material for pop art is found in the everyday, the ordinary, in mass culture; it criticises consumer society by means of its own tools, such as images from advertising, and breaks down the barriers between high and low art.

Georges Ioannou (1926 – 2017) is considered the most important representative of pop art in Greece, and Inner Journey is the latest exhibition dedicated to his work, a retrospective career-spanning show. Over 150 artworks, oil paintings, monotypes, engravings, archival material, notes and sketches are exhibited at the Municipal Art Gallery. From sketches during the German Occupation, to his last artworks in 2008, witness how his style evolved throughout the 50 years of his career.

Pioneering in the way that he depicted his contemporary society, Ioannou used vibrant colours, and narrative techniques similar to those found in comic book panels and graphic novels, to approach current events. And although his artworks may appear cheerful, it nevertheless makes important social and political statements.

Ioannou did several solo and group exhibitions during his lifetime, including the Venice Biennale. In 2012 he was awarded by the Academy of Athens for a lifetime of artistic creation.