ATHENS, Greece — On Monday, Greek police detained a parliament member following allegations of vandalizing artworks at the National Gallery in Athens. The politician, Nikolaos Papadopoulos, is a part of the small ultra-religious Niki party. He is accused of destroying glass cases and damaging artworks that he deemed blasphemous. As a result, the gallery has been closed temporarily.
The targeted pieces were reportedly part of an exhibition titled “The Allure of the Bizarre,” which featured caricatures of religious icons and themes. This exhibition, showcasing the work of Greek artists, began in January and is slated to continue until September. It provides a unique viewpoint alongside 80 pieces from the renowned Spanish artist Francisco Goya, dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
In response to the destruction, the National Gallery released a statement mentioning its temporary closure due to the attack but did not specify which artworks were damaged or the extent of the damage. This incident follows Papadopoulos’s earlier comments in parliament where he criticized the exhibition, calling it an affront to religious sensibilities, particularly those concerning the Virgin Mary and Christ.
The Niki party, formed in 2019 and holding 10 out of 300 parliamentary seats, blends Orthodox Christian values with nationalism. In contrast, the Culture Ministry emphasized its commitment to safeguarding Greece’s cultural and artistic legacy without resorting to acts of censorship.
