Four works at The National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens were vandalized by Greek MP Nikolaos Papadopoulos and an accomplice. They targeted contemporary pieces by artist Christoforos Katsadiotis, claiming they were offensive to Orthodox Christianity. Detained briefly, Papadopoulos faced minor property damage charges. He argued through an open letter that the artwork attacked cultural identity and faith. Following the incident, the museum emphasized the significance of artistic expression, suggesting deepening cultural conflicts as religious sentiments clash with contemporary art.
"The 'works' presented in your periodic exhibition ... do not constitute art. They constitute a direct attack on our faith, on our cultural identity, on the roots of our nation."
Nikolaos Papadopoulos, a member of the right-wing ultra-religious Niki party, wrote on X that his request to withdraw the exhibits was ignored."
The museum's board of directors expressed concern over the attack, emphasizing the importance of protecting artistic expression in light of the incident.
Papadopoulos was reportedly charged with a misdemeanour for minor property damage after vandalizing the exhibition works he deemed "offensive to Orthodox Christianity."
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