Takis
(Vassilakis) (1925-)
A pioneer of Energy Art and Kinetic Art, Takis is completely self-taught. His dynamic art
reflects his "free spirit" : In 1954, Takis left Greece to become "a citizen of the world" . He travelled
throughout Europe and the USA, but never severed his ties with Greece completely.
Nature has always been a source of inspiration for Takis. Stones weathered by the elements, and metals deformed by
induced explosions are recurring motifs. His trademark "Signals" series consists of musical sculptures created by
vibrating rods made of piano wires. Musical notes chime at random, created by natural kinetic forces. "Signals" has been heralded as the first example of music and visual art combined in contemporary art history. Signals was
first exhibited at London's Hanover Gallery in 1958.
In 1959, Takis created telemagnetic sculptures consisting of a needle tied to a transparent thread, suspended in
mid-air through a magnetic pull. Takis experimented with telemagnetism for decades. He later incorporated electricity
and light into his art.
In 1960, Takis presented his famous "Flying Man" - a human body suspended in mid-air through the use of a
magnet - at the Iris Clert gallery.
Takis has had solo shows at the Paris Municipal Museum of Modern Art (1978) and the Centre Pompidou (1981-82). He
won the Grand Prix at the Paris New Biennale in 1985. In 1993, two retrospectives were held at the Jeu de Paume
Gallery in Paris, and the Athens School of Fine Arts Factory. His Signs
installation at the Place de la Defence in Paris (1984-87) and his "Illumination" of the Arc de Triomphe are
examples of Takis' larger projects.
Takis was invited to represent Greece at the Venice Biennale a few years ago. However, once there, the artist
staged a protest, claiming that he was a "universal" artist, not a Greek one.
