Loading
Suite: Olympic Centennial The runners
Alekos Fassianos1990 - 1992
The Olympic Museum
Lausanne, Switzerland
A blue composition of a nude man behind a tree, holding a laurel crown and a bicycle, with two white doves on the right. Ochres and blues are juxtaposed to create a sense of freedom. Motion is emphasised by the hair and scarf waving in the breeze.
Show lessRead more
Details
- Title: Suite: Olympic Centennial The runners
- Creator Lifespan: 1935
- Creator Nationality: Greek
- Creator Gender: Male
- Creator Birth Place: Greece
- Date Created: 1990 - 1992
- Location Created: Greece
- Physical Dimensions: w310 x h440 cm (Complete)
- Painter: Alekos Fassianos
- Description: Signed: A. Fassianos upper right. From the 50 original works of the Olympic Centennial Suite, the IOC printed 250 lithographs of each work, all measuring 63/90cm, on Arches vellum paper (270 grams), signed by the artist and numbered.
- Collection information: The "Olympic Centennial Suite ", brings together 50 works by international artists who are representative of the variety of contemporary artistic tendencies. It was created on the occasion of the centenary of the foundation of the International Olympic Committee in 1994. For the choice of the works, the IOC brought in two prestigious French art critics, Gérard Xuriguera and Francis Parent. More than two years were necessary to constitute this Suite, with the aim of representing, in just 50 works, the multiplicity of creative work produced over the last five decades, from the figurative to the abstract, from hyperrealism to minimalism, from the new figurative school to abstract expressionism, as well as geometrism, conceptual art, and body art. It was decided that each international artist selected should create a work on a two-dimensional support. Some of these artists, aware of the importance of the message of the Olympic Movement, have rendered this spirit a special homage, while always remaining faithful to their own personal style. This "Suite" can be qualified as the jewel of the art collection of The Olympic Museum.
- Artistic school or movement: Fassianos studied painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1956 to 1960. He then went to Paris on a French state scholarship (1962-1964). Since his first exhibition in 1959, he has produced more than 70 personal exhibitions in Paris, Athens, Milan, New York, London, Tokyo, Beirut and elsewhere. Fassianos is a complete artist who has taken the route of poetry and who, at the same time, has expressed in colour the words of poets such as Odysseas Elytis, Yannis Ritsos and many others. His versatility has also been put to the service of the magic of the theatre. He was also invited to produce stamps and posters ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Alekos Fassianos personal style was shaped during the ‘60s. He draws his subjects from Greek myths, Fayum portraits and Byzantine icons in the expressionist style. His nudes avoid the risk of immodesty by invoking the celestial. The living elements of sun, earth, sea and fire are harmoniously arranged in perfect balance.
- Type: Paintings
- Rights: International Olympic Committee, 2004, ©IOC/G.Peter
- Medium: Oil painting on paper
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.