Presentation of the postdoctoral study of Dr. Markella-Elpida Tsihla, Dr. Art History

The presentation of the post-doctoral study of Dr. Markella-Elpida Tsihla, Dr. History of Art, was successfully completed at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle on Wednesday 15 March 2023. The research entitled “The Macedonian Struggle in collective memory: public sculpture as the aesthetic and historical imprint of Macedonia’s national identity” presents the public monuments dedicated to the Macedonian Struggle and its leaders, which preserve, preserve and perpetuate historical memory in perpetuity. The research study was the deliverable of the annual fellowship announced in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed on 17 July 2018 with AUTH, based on the scientific performance of the Postdoctoral Researcher candidates.

The Emeritus Professor of Art History of AUTH, Mr. Miltiadis Papanikolaou, spoke about the research, who pointed out the timelessness of the monuments, referring to the characteristic example of the emblematic statue of Captain Kottas, the work of Dimitris Kalamaras. The Professor of Modern Greek History and Culture of AUTH, Mrs. Iphigenia Vamvakidou, stressed the importance of the construction of public monuments and their significance for the preservation of national and historical memory. The Professor of Art History in the Balkan area of UOM and Director of the KEMIT of IMMA, Mrs. Stavroula Mavrogeni, supervisor of the research activity of the Museum, referred to the character of Pavlos Melas, the important works of art that have been created and the monuments that have been erected in his memory. The event concluded with a speech by Dr. Markella-Elpida Tsichla, who presented the conclusions of the research, which revealed the collective will of Greek society in the construction of public monuments. The event was moderated by Mrs. Fani Tsatsaia, Art Historian, PhD in Contemporary History, University of Thessaloniki, Director of the Foundation of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA).