Ο Κονέκ-Κονέκ βασιλιάς της Ισπροβάνας συλλογάται το τι είν' ο άνθρωπος, 2002

Konek-Konek, the King of Isprovana Ponders What Man Can Be

Portrait of the King, acrylic on wood, 226 x 106 cm.

SPACE

Installation view at the Benaki Museum, 2023-24

Fotis Kontoglou, in 1932, painted a large mural using the fresco technique in his house (16 Vizyinou St., Kypriadou). He was assisted by Yannis Tsarouchis and Nikos Engonopoulos. The upper band of the first scene bears the title: “THE HAPPY KONEK-KONEK, king of Isprovana, ponders what man can be”.

I borrowed (from memory) both the title and the subject from this work to create my own king of Isprovana and his thoughts. 

G.H.

*The work is now held in the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum.