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Sarandis KARAVOUSIS
Greek, 1938-2011

Still life with ancient head
oil on canvas

signed upper left
signed and dated 75 on the reverse
65 x 92 cm


PROVENANCE

private collection, Athens


4 000 / 5 000 €

Sarandis Karavousis studied painting at The School of Fine Arts, Athens between 1959 and 1963 under Yannis Moralis.

In 1967 he was awarded a scholarship by the French government to study in Paris at the École des Beaux Arts. He furthered his theoretical studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, the Sorbonne and at the École du Louvre.

Karavousis is one of the main representatives of contemporary Greek metaphysical painting. The conventional representation of everyday objects, archaeological finds, statues and ruins is combined with the representation of esoteric-imaginary landscapes.

His work is characterised by a pervasive sense of mystery, symbolism, enigma and the powerful persistence of memory. His work references Morandi, Giorgio de Chirico, Carlo Carra and the legacy of Greek history. He developed a personal language characterised by sensitive tones, an inner lighting and an artificial perspective.

Since 1967 he divides his time between Paris and Athens. In 1984 he was awarded the Drouant-Cartier award.

Karavousis held many solo shows in Greece and France and participated in many prestigious group exhibitions such as: the 1974-1990 Salon Comparaisons, Paris, the 1975-1987 Salon de la Société National des Beaux Arts, Paris, the 1977 and 1978 FIAC, Paris, the 1979 Sao Paolo Biennale, the 1990 Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris and the 1993 ‘Art & Patrimoine’ exhibition in Paris, just to name a few.

His work is found in many public and private collections, notably: The National Gallery, Athens, The Athens Municipal Gallery, The Averoff Gallery, The National Bank of Greece, The Musée d’Art Moderne, Paris and the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.