Capital Museum - May 19 to July 6, 2008

The Opening Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games travels to Beijing for an exhibition.

Greece, the birthplace of the athletic ideal and the Olympic Games, gave to the world public a Ceremony which related ‘with the use of austere, recognizable symbols, ideas and clear values the adventure of the Greek discovery of the world’. A technocentric and anthropocentric Ceremony, which told the story of our country through its art and placed man at the epicentre, without ever resorting to a display of his skills, without placing him on a pedestal, only presenting him in all his humbleness, simplicity and earnestness.

Costumes, objects, photographs and videos from the preparation and the Opening Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games will be exhibited at the Beijing Capital Museum. Images ranging from the small boat and the Olympic circles written in fire on the water, the Cycladic statue and the allegoric landscape of the Greek islands, the hourglass reflections, which depict through art life in Greece from the prehistoric times until today, to the Olive Tree – Symbol of Peace and the Olympic Games, will call to the visitors’ mind the night of the Ceremony and will give them an opportunity to understand how this Greek celebration was staged.

Dimitris Papaioannou was responsible for the concept and direction of the Ceremony. Lili Pezanou is responsible for the curatorship and design of the exhibition. The videos are designed by Athena Tsangaris.

The exhibition will run from May 19, 2008 to July 6, 2008

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The Cultural Year of Greece in China, to be held from September 2007 to September 2008, will present the modern and also diachronic character of Hellenic Culture and Greece. Theatrical performances, cinema tributes, dance, archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and popular music, conferences and book exhibitions are among the diverse activities taking place during the Cultural Year of Greece in China.

For more information, please contact:
Embassy of Greece – Cultural Section
Ms. Susan Gao
Ms. Lina Mao
Tel：010-5324513/65324713
Fax：010-65324426
E-Mail:
grculture.pek@mfa.gr

Embassy of Greece – Press Office
Stelios Korkidis, Press Counselor
Euthymios Athanasiadis, Press Attaché
Tel：010-58696755
Fax：010-58696757
E-Mail: grpress@sohu.net

Upstream Asia Beijing Office
Ms. Cathy Fu
Ms. Cynthia Guan
Tel: 010-65307200-204/217
Fax: 010-65307340
E-Mail: cathy.fu@upstreamasia.com
cynthia.guan@upstreamasia.com