Introduction

Throughout his career Vangelis was mostly known for his work as a composer and musician. Until 2003 not many people were also aware of his work as a painter, which is not surprising as Vangelis always considered painting a private matter. However, on the 5th of June 2003 this changed when a public exhibition of Vangelis' paintings opened at the Almudin building in the city of Valencia in Spain as part of the second Biennale. For the first time it was possible for a wider audience to enjoy Vangelis' paintings.

The free exhibition displayed 70 paintings, photos of which are collected in an exclusive catalog, a hard-cover book that was only for sale at the exhibition. The €50 catalog, issued with a blue-cloth cover and simply titled ‘Vangelis’ includes several prefaces, unique photos of Vangelis paintings and a biography. Also available for sale at the exhibition were posters in both the Spanish and English language.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Vangelis also composed special music to accompany his paintings during the exhibition. While studying the tastefully lighted paintings on the wall the music could be heard in the background, ambient, seemingly repetitive but when closely paying attention, always changing. Unfortunately this music was never officially released and remains exclusive to the exhibition. The event of the exhibition in Valencia initiated another, even more exclusive catalog of Vangelis’ paintings titled ‘Stefanoforia’. Compared to the regular exhibition catalog the Stefanoforia is much larger (43,5 x 34,5 cm), more luxurious and extensive, including photos of dozens more of Vangelis’ paintings. The book is bound in hardback with gilt edges and housed in a hard-cover box. It was printed as a limited edition, unavailable for sale to the generic public.

The exhibition at Almudin ultimately closed at on the 12th of October 2003, and from there went on tour to South America. Exhibitions followed in Montevideo (Uruguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Brazil, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), and Mexico.

Details and credits

• Title: Vangelis Painting
• Year: 2003
• Country: Spain
• Paintings and music by Vangelis.
• Catalog: 181 pages.
• Texts: Fernando Castro Flórez, Dora Elliotou-Bogan.
• Photography: Stathis Zalidis
• Translations: Lambe & Neto, Jous Dons
• Design & Layout: Pascual Lucas
• Printing: Ediciones Cimal Textos Imatges, SA
• Special Thanks: Cherry Vanilla, Vangelis Saitis and John Martin.
• President of the Scientific-Artistic Commission Ms. Consuelo Císcar Casabán, Sub-secretary for Cultural Promotion

Exhibits

• Almudin, Valencia (Spain): June 5 to October 12 2003
• Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales, Montevideo (Uruguay): December 18 2003 to February 18 2004.
• Museo Nacional de Bella Artes, Buenos Aires (Argentina): March 4 to April 4 2004.
• Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, Salvador de Bahia (Brazil): May 21 to July 4 2004.
• Galeria Marta Traba de Arte Latino-Americana, Sao Paulo (Brazil): July 20 to August 15 2004.
• Palacio das Artes, Belo Horizonte (Brazil): September 21 to October 2004.
• Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (Cuba): October 28 to December 20 2004.
• Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic): February 3 to April 11 2005.
• Palacio de Mineria, Mexico City (Mexico): June 7 to August 7 2005
• Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Aguascalientes (Mexico): September 27 2005 to January 8 2006. 

Media

• Vangelis Painting exhibit catalog: ISBN 84-482-3090-6.
• Stefanoforia catalog: Generalitat Valenciana 2003/83/69804.

Unfortunately the music that Vangelis composed for the exhibit was never officially released.

Links

• Elsew.com

Vangelis Painting exhibition catalog