e-twinning Meeting Europe

1. John Tsarouhis
Date of birth: 01-01-1910
Date of death: 01-01-1989
Place of birth: Piraeus
A few words about his life:
He was born in Piraeus in December 1909 and he was from the known family of Metaxas
from Psara. In 1938, two years after his return to Greece, he made his first personal
exhibition at the store of Alexopoulos at Nikis street in Athens with works that
presented special personality that critics of Art Papantoniou and Kapetanakis spoke in
great favor of. In 1947, he made two personal exhibitions with water colors and
theatrical drafts. In 1950 he went to Paris again where a year later, in 1951, he made an
exhibition and in London at “Retfree Gallery” while in 1953 he signed a contract with
Iolas Gallery in New York. In 1956 he was nominated for the Gugenheim Award and in
1958 he took part in the Bienalle of Venice. In 1967, he stayed permanently in Paris. In
1982 the “John Tharouhis Museum” opened in Marousi, at the house of the artist which
he turned into a museum donating his personal collection of works. At the same time,
the Tsarouhis Foundation works in order to raise awareness of his work.
A few words about his work:
He exhibited his first pieces in 1929 at the “Art Asylum”. His success lead him to study at
the Superior School of Fine Arts at the Metsovion Polytechnic (1929-1935) with
professors: Iakovides, Vicatos, and Parthenis. At the same time he took classes with
Kontoglou (1931-1934) who introduced him to byzantine agiography while he studied
popular architecture and costumes. With Pikions, Kontoglou and Ag. Chatzimichalis he
was first to express the greekness of Art. In the period 1935-1936, having visited
Istanbul first, he travelled to Paris and Italy. Visiting museums he came into contact with
creations of the Renaussance and Impressionism as well as the contemporary art
currerls. Some of his works are: Soldier dancing zeimbekiko, Neon café, young man with
helmet.