George Costakis
Encyclopedia
In the years surrounding the 1917 revolution, artists in Russia produced the first non-figurative art
, which was to become the defining art of the 20th century. George Costakis by chance discovered some constructivist
paintings in a Moscow studio in 1946, and he went on to search for the revolutionary art which might otherwise have been lost to the world.
This collection was to become the most representative body of Modern Russian avant-garde
art anywhere at that time.
parents George Costakis had no artistic education but developed an interest in art during his adolescence and as soon as he was able to, he began buying art. At first he worked as a driver for the Greek Embassy until 1939, when relationships between Russia and Greece broke down due to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
. After that he took up work as Head of Personnel for the Canadian Embassy.
His work at the Canadian Embassy brought him into contact with many visiting diplomats and he would show them around the Moscow art galleries and antique shops.
works produced in Russia and the rest of Europe. 'Culture' and collecting paintings had been a long established essential for the wealthy citizen of Moscow (Gray).
In the early years of the 20th century the cultural and political climate of Europe as a whole was in a state of change with a cross-fertilisation of ideas across national boundaries. Many French cubist and Italian futurist
works were being brought into Russia and exhibited.
supported the new abstract art
but from 1920 onwards the freedom of artists in Russia was increasingly curtailed. Many artists wanted their work to contribute to the creation of a new society whilst others, for example the Suprematists continued to work independently.
Lenin died in 1924 and Joseph Stalin
who succeeded him as leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
, brought about an extreme form of totalitarism . In 1932 socialist realism
became the official state policy. It was within this political environment that Costakis experienced the development, suppression and final disintegration of culture in Russia.
and Henri Matisse
soon became his main subject, then in 1946 he came across three paintings in a Moscow studio by Olga Rozanova
. He described how, in the dark days after the war these brightly coloured paintings of the lost Avant-Garde:
He was so struck by the powerful visual effect of the strong colour and bold geometric design which spoke directly to the senses, that he was determined to rediscover the Suprematist
and Constructivist
art which had been lost and forgotten in the attics, studios and basements of Moscow and Leningrad.
He hunted for 'lost' pictures, some that were rolled up and covered with dust. He met Vladimir Tatlin
and befriended Varvara Stepanova
. He tracked down friends of Kasimir Malevich and bought works by Liubov Popova and Ivan Kliun
. He particularly admired Anatoly Zverev
, Russian expressionist whom he met in the 1950s. Costakis said about Zverev "it was a source of great happiness for me to come into contact with this wonderful artist, and I believe him to be one of the most talented artists in Soviet Russia."
By the 1960 the apartment of George Costakis in Moscow had become a meeting place for international art collectors and art lovers in general: Russia's unofficial Museum of Modern Art. The 'détente' period following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords
in 1973 opened up Russia once again to international cultural exchanges the first of which was the showing of the Costakis Collection in Düsseldorf in 1977.
The same year Costakis, with his family, left the Soviet Union
and moved to Greece
, but there was an agreement that he should leave 50 per cent of his collection in the State Tretyakov Gallery
of Moscow. Recently 1997 the Greek State bought the 1275 works. They are now a part of the permanent collection of the State Museum of Contemporary Art
, in Thessaloniki
, Greece.
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
, which was to become the defining art of the 20th century. George Costakis by chance discovered some constructivist
Constructivism (art)
Constructivism was an artistic and architectural philosophy that originated in Russia beginning in 1919, which was a rejection of the idea of autonomous art. The movement was in favour of art as a practice for social purposes. Constructivism had a great effect on modern art movements of the 20th...
paintings in a Moscow studio in 1946, and he went on to search for the revolutionary art which might otherwise have been lost to the world.
This collection was to become the most representative body of Modern Russian avant-garde
Russian avant-garde
The Russian avant-garde is an umbrella term used to define the large, influential wave of modern art that flourished in Russia approximately 1890 to 1930 - although some place its beginning as early as 1850 and its end as late as 1960...
art anywhere at that time.
Family history
Born in Moscow of affluent GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
parents George Costakis had no artistic education but developed an interest in art during his adolescence and as soon as he was able to, he began buying art. At first he worked as a driver for the Greek Embassy until 1939, when relationships between Russia and Greece broke down due to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and the German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, was an agreement officially titled the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and signed in Moscow in the late hours of 23 August 1939...
. After that he took up work as Head of Personnel for the Canadian Embassy.
His work at the Canadian Embassy brought him into contact with many visiting diplomats and he would show them around the Moscow art galleries and antique shops.
The Russian Revolution and art
From the 1860s an art-buying middle class in Moscow had ensured an interest in and a market for Impressionist, Symbolist and Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
works produced in Russia and the rest of Europe. 'Culture' and collecting paintings had been a long established essential for the wealthy citizen of Moscow (Gray).
In the early years of the 20th century the cultural and political climate of Europe as a whole was in a state of change with a cross-fertilisation of ideas across national boundaries. Many French cubist and Italian futurist
Futurism (art)
Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century. It emphasized and glorified themes associated with contemporary concepts of the future, including speed, technology, youth and violence, and objects such as the car, the airplane and the industrial city...
works were being brought into Russia and exhibited.
Stalinism
At first the Bolshevik Revolution under the leadership of Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
supported the new abstract art
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
but from 1920 onwards the freedom of artists in Russia was increasingly curtailed. Many artists wanted their work to contribute to the creation of a new society whilst others, for example the Suprematists continued to work independently.
Lenin died in 1924 and Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
who succeeded him as leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
, brought about an extreme form of totalitarism . In 1932 socialist realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
became the official state policy. It was within this political environment that Costakis experienced the development, suppression and final disintegration of culture in Russia.
The Costakis Collection
At first Costakis had collected the Masters of the Dutch School of Landscape Painters but modernist works by Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
and Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...
soon became his main subject, then in 1946 he came across three paintings in a Moscow studio by Olga Rozanova
Olga Rozanova
Olga Vladimirovna Rozanova Olga Vladimirovna Rozanova Olga Vladimirovna Rozanova (also spelled Rosanova, Russian: (Ольга Владимировна Розанова) (1886-7 November 1918, Moscow) was a Russian avant-garde artist in the styles of Suprematist, Neo-Primitivist, and Cubo-Futurist.-Biography:...
. He described how, in the dark days after the war these brightly coloured paintings of the lost Avant-Garde:
- "... were signals to me. I did not care what it was... but nobody knew what anything was in those days." (Chatwin, 1977)
He was so struck by the powerful visual effect of the strong colour and bold geometric design which spoke directly to the senses, that he was determined to rediscover the Suprematist
Suprematism
Suprematism was an art movement focused on fundamental geometric forms which formed in Russia in 1915-1916. It was not until later that suprematism received conventional museum preparations...
and Constructivist
Constructivism (art)
Constructivism was an artistic and architectural philosophy that originated in Russia beginning in 1919, which was a rejection of the idea of autonomous art. The movement was in favour of art as a practice for social purposes. Constructivism had a great effect on modern art movements of the 20th...
art which had been lost and forgotten in the attics, studios and basements of Moscow and Leningrad.
He hunted for 'lost' pictures, some that were rolled up and covered with dust. He met Vladimir Tatlin
Vladimir Tatlin
Vladimir Yevgrafovich Tatlin was a Russian and Soviet painter and architect. With Kazimir Malevich he was one of the two most important figures in the Russian avant-garde art movement of the 1920s, and he later became the most important artist in the Constructivist movement...
and befriended Varvara Stepanova
Varvara Stepanova
Varvara Fyodorovna Stepanova , was a Russian artist associated with the 'Constructivist' movement.She came from peasant origins but was fortunate enough to get an education at Kazan School of Art, Odessa. There she met her lifelong friend and collaborator Alexander Rodchenko...
. He tracked down friends of Kasimir Malevich and bought works by Liubov Popova and Ivan Kliun
Ivan Kliun
Ivan Kliun was a Russian painter, Avant-garde artist , graphic artist and sculptor.-Biography:Ivan Vasilyevich Kliun was born in 1873 in Bolshie Gorki village ....
. He particularly admired Anatoly Zverev
Anatoly Zverev
Anatoly Zverev was a Russian artist, a member of the non-conformist movement and a founder of Russian Expressionism in the 1960s. He spent all of his life in Moscow....
, Russian expressionist whom he met in the 1950s. Costakis said about Zverev "it was a source of great happiness for me to come into contact with this wonderful artist, and I believe him to be one of the most talented artists in Soviet Russia."
By the 1960 the apartment of George Costakis in Moscow had become a meeting place for international art collectors and art lovers in general: Russia's unofficial Museum of Modern Art. The 'détente' period following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War, ended direct U.S. military involvement, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam...
in 1973 opened up Russia once again to international cultural exchanges the first of which was the showing of the Costakis Collection in Düsseldorf in 1977.
The same year Costakis, with his family, left the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, but there was an agreement that he should leave 50 per cent of his collection in the State Tretyakov Gallery
Tretyakov Gallery
The State Tretyakov Gallery is an art gallery in Moscow, Russia, the foremost depository of Russian fine art in the world.The gallery's history starts in 1856 when the Moscow merchant Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov acquired works by Russian artists of his day with the aim of creating a collection,...
of Moscow. Recently 1997 the Greek State bought the 1275 works. They are now a part of the permanent collection of the State Museum of Contemporary Art
State Museum of Contemporary Art
The Thessaloniki State Museum of Contemporary Art is a state museum based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It was founded in 1997, at the occasion of Thessaloniki's year as European Capital of Culture. The museum was established by a law passed in the Greek Parliament by then Greek Minister of Culture,...
, in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece.
Exhibitions from the Costakis Collection
- 1977 Costakis Collection, DüsseldorfDüsseldorfDüsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Deutsche BankDeutsche BankDeutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets... - 1981 Art of the Avant-Garde in Russia, GuggenheimSolomon R. Guggenheim MuseumThe Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
- 1986 Anatoly ZverevAnatoly ZverevAnatoly Zverev was a Russian artist, a member of the non-conformist movement and a founder of Russian Expressionism in the 1960s. He spent all of his life in Moscow....
, Kouros Gallery, New York - 1992 The Great Utopia: Soviet Avant-Garde 1915-1932
- 1995 Berlin-Moscow/Moscow-Berlin exhibition, supported by Deutsche Bank
- 1997 Russian Avant-Garde from the Collection of G.D. Costakis, Tretyakov Gallery
- 2000 Amazons of the Avant-Garde, Guggenheim travelling exhibition: BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, VeniceVeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, BilbaoBilbaoBilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
. - 2004-2005 Light and Color of Russian Art, travelling exhibition: BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre... - 2008 Lost Vanguard Found, Art and Architecture in Russia (1915-1935), State Museum of Contemporary ArtState Museum of Contemporary ArtThe Thessaloniki State Museum of Contemporary Art is a state museum based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It was founded in 1997, at the occasion of Thessaloniki's year as European Capital of Culture. The museum was established by a law passed in the Greek Parliament by then Greek Minister of Culture,...
, ThessalonikiThessalonikiThessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace... - 2008 Five seasons of the Russian Avant-Garde, Goulandris Museum of Cycladic ArtGoulandris Museum of Cycladic ArtThe Nicholas P. Goulandris Foundation - Museum of Cycladic Art is one of the great museums of Athens. It houses a magnificent collection of artifacts of Cycladic art....
, AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... - 2008 Vers de Nouveaux Rivages, Musée MaillolMusée MaillolThe Musée Maillol is an art museum located in the 7th arrondissement at 59-61, rue de Grenelle, Paris, France. It is open daily except Tuesday; an admission fee is charged....
, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... - 2010 Cosmos of the Russian Avant-Garde. Art and Space Exploration in Russia 1900-1930, Fundación Marcelino Botín, SantanderSantander, CantabriaThe port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
External links
Biography 1997 Exhibition
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki/
- George Costakis and His Time exhibition in Moscow, 2003 http://www.kolodzeiart.org/georgecostakis.html