President Sakellaropoulou inaugurates 'Democracy' exhibition at National Gallery of Art

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou inaugurated the exhibition "Democracy" at the National Gallery of Art on Thursday night, underlining that under current international circumstances and as the voices challenging democracy are multiplying at a worrying rate, this exhibition is "not only fascinating, but absolutely necessary."

"I am happy to inaugurate the exhibition 'Democracy', with which the National Gallery of Art participates in the 50th anniversary since the restoration of democracy," Sakellaropoulou said.

"It is an exhibition that takes us half a century back, to the era of democratic transitions in the countries of the European South, when dictatorships in Spain, Portugal and Greece collapsed. A breeze of rejoicing, expectations and hope spread in the region, a liberating wind that revived peoples. And naturally, art, a reflection of the political and social environment, the distillation of the spirit of an era and one synonymous to freedom - as Heinrich Bell had so aptly noted - observes, records, judges, and intervenes in the sensational events of the times. It never remains silent. It is exactly this political function of art at difficult times that this exhibition examines."

"Democracy" will open to the public on Friday and remain on show until February 2, 2025.