EXHIBITION OPENING at IMMA “MEMORIAL PLACES. From Pontus and Asia Minor to Macedonia”

The Foundation for the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA), in the framework of IMMA’s activities for the centenary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the promotion of the history and culture of Pontus and Asia Minor, presented on Saturday, May 28, 2022 the exhibition “MEMONIAL PLACES. From Pontus and Asia Minor to Macedonia”. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Vice-Regional Governor of the Metropolitan Unit of Thessaloniki, Mrs. Voula Patoulidou, who referred to the importance of implementing such actions as a minimum tribute to those who were forcibly uprooted from their ancestral homes. The exhibition includes artworks, photographic and archival material from the collection of the Emeritus Professor of the University of Western Macedonia, Mr. Konstantinos Fotiadis, as well as works by the artists Asteris Gekas and Maria Kobatssiaris.

The President of IMMA, Professor Vasilis Gounaris, stressed the scientific and educational value and the uniqueness of the collection of Mr.Fotiadis. The collector himself noted in his speech that the works from the rich material of his collection function as historical evidence of the long-lasting living presence of the Pontian and Asia Minor Hellenism, as an invincible arsenal of eternal memory, as living witnesses of the biological, moral and cultural genocide of a people. The Director of IMMA, Art Historian, Ms. Fani Tsatsiaia, stressed that the works present the undeniable prosperity and progress of the Hellenism of the East in economy, education and culture, as well as the need of the refugees and the following generations to preserve, preserve and promote in perpetuity the customs and traditions of the motherland. Ms. Stavroula Mavrogeni, Professor of PA.MAK, Director of KEMIT IMMA, referred to the Greek and foreign artists of the exhibition, who created the exhibition with the uprooting of Hellenism from its ancient cradles in mind. He spoke about the concept of the refugee, the person who retains the trauma of violent separation, along with the hope for a better future in the Motherland.

The exhibition was implemented with the kind sponsorship of the Thessaloniki Water and Sewerage Company of Thessaloniki S.A. The President of EYATH, Professor Agis Papadopoulos referred to the international recognition of Mr. Fotiadis on issues of the history of the Pontic Hellenism, but also to the sponsorship of the exhibition by EYATH in the context of the company’s mission to support the creative efforts of the institutions that serve the historical memory in the city. The event was supported by the NOEMA WINERY winery and Ms. Kyriaki Panagiotou whom we would like to thank.