Constantine Andreou

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This article is about the painter and sculptor. For the musician, see Costas Andreou.
Constantine Andreou
Born March 24, 1917
São Paulo, Brazil
Died October 8, 2007(2007-10-08) (aged 90)
Athens, Greece
Field Painting, Sculpture
Works Globe – Trinité (1974)
Awards Gran Prix d' Antoine Pevsner (1988), Croix de Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (2000), Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2005)

Constantine Andreou (Also: Costas Andreou, Kostas Andreou; French: Constantin Andréou, Costas Andréou; Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Ανδρέου, Κώστας Ανδρέου) (March 24, 1917 – October 8, 2007) was a painter and sculptor of Greek origin with a highly successful career that spanned six decades. Andreou has been praised by many as an eminent figure in international art of the 20th century.[1][2][3][4]

Biography

Early Life (1917–1945)

Constantine Andreou was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1917 to Greek parents who had immigrated to Brazil a few years prior.[5]

In 1925, his family moved back to Greece where he settled in Athens until the end of World War II. During these years, Andreou dabbled in crafts and for a period worked as a carpenter making furniture while studying technical design.[6] He graduated in 1935.[5] In the same year, he started his study of sculpture,[5] the art form for which he would be most known later.

In 1939, Andreou participated at the Panellinio (Πανελλήνιο), but the judges disqualified his three sculptures.[6] In 1942], he tried again at the same competition and with the same artwork.[6] The pieces were so lifelike, he was accused of cheating by copying nature.[6] Three major personalities of the time in Greece, Memos Makris, John Miliades, and Nikos Nikolaou, came to his defense.[6][7] As a result of the publicity, he had his first taste of fame and major exposure of his artwork.[6][7]

In 1940, Greece entered World War II on the side of Allies, and by 1941, the country was under Nazi and Italian occupation. Andreou was initially drafted into the Hellenic Army in 1940 and during the occupation he was an active member of the Greek Resistance.[5]

The war years and occupation did not stop Andreou from continuing his artwork and studies, and in 1945 he won a French scholarship to go to France.[5]

Life in France (1945–2002)

In 1947, Andreou began using a new personal technique employing welded copper sheets. This new technique allowed him to create a new way to express his creation in a way completely unrelated to tradition.[6]

A major impact on Andreou's method of expression and in the development of his personal "language" was his friendship with Le Corbusier. They first met in 1947 and worked together on and off until 1953.[6] At one time Le Corbusier asked Andreou, "Where did you learn how to work?" to which Andreou responded "I'm Greek, I carry the knowledge within me."[6] This friendship instilled in Andreou Le Corbusier's view of architecture as monumental sculpture and, conversely, sculpture subject to the laws of architecture.[8]

In the same period, Andreou became a member of a select group of philosophers, including Jean-Paul Sartre, who discussed various topics in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.[9]

Andreou had his first exhibition in Paris in 1951, where he demonstrated the transformation of his style. In the group exhibition "Seven Greek Sculptors", Andreou was characterized as "the most famous Greek sculptor in the capital with a rich, varied and successful work".[10][11] By the end of the decade, Andreou was widely known in the French art scene and considered an equal to Mondrian, Picasso and Gastaud.[12] In 1982, he was given the lead as chairman of the Paris "Autumn Salon" for sculpture.[13][14]

In 1999, the library of the town La Ville-du-Bois, where Andreou resided while in France, was named in honor of Constantine Andreou.[6][15][16]

Throughout his time in France, he regularly visited his friends and family in Greece and many times exhibited his work in various cities and islands there. In 1977, Andreou bought a centuries old winery on the island of Aegina.[17] He converted it into a house, after being influenced to buy a house on the island by his long time friend and colleague Nikos Nikolaou.[17]

Later years and return to Greece (2002–2007)

Constantine Andreou died on October 8, 2007 in his house in Athens.[18][19]

Legacy

In 2004, Andreou created the "Costas Andreou Foundation" with the stated goal to promote his work in the arts and the significance of sculpture and painting worldwide. The foundation is also to recognize young and upcoming artists every 3 years with an award, based on the decision of an international judging committee. The first time the award is to be given in March 2008.[13] A retrospective exhibition is already being planned for April 2009 at the Evgenidio Foundation in Athens, Greece.

Awards

  • Gran Prix d'Antoine Pevsner, 1998[5][13]
  • Croix de Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, 2000[6]
  • Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, 2005[20]

Work

Works by Andreou can be found in many private collections in Europe, North America and Asia.[5]

Constantine Andreou has also participated in the Biennales of Antwerp, Holland, Paris, Venice, and Yugoslavia.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Michel Bourgeois in ANDREOU (in French). Paris, France: Les Editions du Temps. 1984. 
  2. ↑ Greek Minister of Culture (2001). Presentation of 'Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' to Andreou (Speech). Athens, Greece.
  3. ↑ J.P. Langlois, introduction - Femme Femmes, peintures. Athens, Greece: G. Giannoussis. 1997. 
  4. ↑ Statement by the Board of Directors of the Teloglion Art Foundation, pg. 8 - ανδρέου (in Greek). Thessaloniki, Greece: Teloglion Foundation of Art, AUT. 2004. ISBN 960-87805-1-9. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 ANDREOU ΓΛΥΠΤΙΚΗ SCULPTURE – bas reliefs in color. Athens, Greece: Bastas Editions. 1999. ISBN 960-7418-39-5. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 ανδρέου (in Greek). Thessaloniki, Greece: Teloglion Art Foundation, AUT. 2004. ISBN 960-87805-1-9. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Μ. Καλλιγάς (June 19, 1942). "Πανελλήνια Έκθεση Γλυπτικής-Ζωγραφικής". Ελεύθερο Βήμα (in Greek) (Athens). 
  8. ↑ Βεατρίκη Σπηλιάδη (1977-06-10). "Andreou". Καθημερινή (in Greek). 
  9. ↑ pg. 31 - L'art abstrait (in French). Paris: Pluriel. 1980. 
  10. ↑ M. Baram (1953). "Sept Sculpteures grecs". France-Grèce (in French). 
  11. ↑ J.A. Cartier (May 7, 1953). "Sept sculpteurs grecs au Petit Palais". Combat (in French). 
  12. ↑ Jean-Paul Sartre (July 1959). "Andréou". Les Temps modernes (in French) (161). 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 ""Εφυγε" ο γλύπτης, ζωγράφος και χαράκτης Κώστας Ανδρέου" (in Greek). Kathimerini. Retrieved 2007-11-06. 
  14. ↑ Jean-François Larrieu. "Le mot du Président" (in French). Retrieved 2007-11-12. 
  15. ↑ "Bibliothèque municipale Constantin Andréou" (in French). Retrieved 2007-05-29. 
  16. ↑ "Έφυγε ο γλύπτης Κώστας Ανδρέου" (in Greek). Ethnos. Retrieved 2007-11-06. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Διαμαντένια Ριμπά (2007-03-18). "Κώστας Ανδρέου-ο Έλληνας γλύπτης- ζωγράφος που δοξάζει το όνομα της Ελλάδας" (PDF) (in Greek). ANA-MPA. Archived from the original on 2007-03-18. Retrieved 2007-11-12. "και συνεργάζεται με τον αδελφικό φύλο[sic] ζωγράφο Νίκο Νικολάου" 
  18. ↑ "Φτωχότερη η γλυπτική" (in Greek). Rizospastis. 2007-12-17. p. 23. Retrieved 2007-10-10. 
  19. ↑ "Απεβίωσε ο καλλιτέχνης Κ. Ανδρέου" (in Greek). To Vima. 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-10-10. 
  20. ↑ "Nominations dans l'ordre des Arts et Lettres de janvier 2005" (in French). Retrieved 2007-05-29. 

References

  • Institut Francais d' Athenes on CultureGuide.gr (invalid as of January 2007 - site deactivated as per )
  • ΑΝΔΡΕΟΥ ζωγραφική αναδρομική 1950–1992 (in Greek). Municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece – Vafopoulio Cultural Center - Dimitria 27. 1992. 
  • Max Crose & Jean Goldman (March 1970). "Numėro special, Exposition Andrèou". Almanach (in French) (61). 
  • Andreou. Geneva, Switzerland: Cailler. 1959. 
  • B. Trėhet (1991-03-19). A.C.A.M. XVIe salon. Chateau du Logis a Brėcey. 
  • Ν. Καλλονάς (June 19, 1942). "Πως Ζουν Οι Παλιοί Και Οι Μοντέρνοι Ζωγράφοι". Βραδυνή (in Greek) (Athens). 
  • Η Έκθεση Τέχνης Στην Αθήνα (in Greek). Athens. June 23, 1942. 
  • Armando Pacheco Alues (December 12, 1952). "Una visita a Constantin Andréou". Amanha (in Spanish). 
  • G. Dormand (June 4, 1953). "Jeune sculpture, jeunes sculpteurs au musée Bourdelle". Libération (in French) (Paris). 
  • A. Vignaud (June 7, 1953). "Dans les jardins de Musée Bourdelle: la femme au salon de la jeune sculpture". Le Matin dimanche (in French) (Paris). 
  • Y. Jean (August 1953). "Flagrantes". São Paulo Magazine (in Portuguese). 
  • M. Marseille (May 3, 1954). "Les expositions". La Vie Judiciaire (in French). 
  • J. Mosellan (May 4, 1954). "Les expositions". Aux Écoutes du Monde (in French). 
  • Y. Jean (August 1954). "Flagrantes". São Paulo Magazine (in Portuguese) (9). 
  • "Un artistio grego expose no rio". A Noite Ilustrada (in Portuguese). October 12, 1954. 
  • R. Kiehl (August 2, 1956). "Andréou". Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace (in French). 
  • J. Cartier (October 15, 1956). "Les expositions". Combat (in French). 
  • A. Marc (April 2, 1958). "Un sculpteur grec a Paris: Andréou". La Lanterne (in French). 

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