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FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ARTIST Manos Ioannidis For the theatricality of the face Art is what is left from the face of God “… My first exhibition was in 1973 at the Art Room at Macedonia Hall of the Anatolia American College of Thessaloniki when I was assigned to decorate the classroom for my class’s graduation ceremony, where I made cartoons of all our teachers in dimensions each 100×150 cm. On cardboard with pen … “ This is what Manos Ioannidis from Thessaloniki says in a recent interview, a very special painter, who, having lived intensely, with risk and without awareness of danger, can transfer this life and these experiences to them equally intensely, sometimes aggressively and sometimes tenderly. , colors. Because there is no greater risk and more extreme risk of life than art itself. And Manos Ioannidis knows this well. He learned it from a very early age by watching his teacher at “Anatolia” George Parali, a mythical figure of the so-called School of Thessaloniki. Another similar one was my friend Costas Lachas. Many consider art to be pleasantly painless. But the truth is that true art, regardless of evaluations or personal choices, if it is not painful, still does not want to be perceived as just “pleasant”. True art, which is not enough as a decorator, (wants to) challenge the established view of the world. He does not want to function as a photograph of this world but rather as an x-ray of it. Thus, the fanatical portrait painter Manos Ioannidis insists with his painting, in his best works in my opinion, on that other similarity that does not simply flatter but “reveals” the person being portrayed. With forms that, although often starting from a photograph and initially seeking realistic fidelity, nevertheless subvert or dissolve this very similarity of persons in order to highlight their invisible personality. The deepest is theirs. This is the case, for example, in portraits of his wife or artists he admires, such as Charlotte or Daly. That is why I argue that while Manos Ioannidis himself considers himself a manic portrait painter, he is a deeply sensitive and perceptive psychographer. By means of painting of course. That is, it transfers to the painting surface not so much the face as the psyche of the depicted. Better, the deepest and most essential version. Through an explosion of colors that do not “say but mean”. Looking for our deepest face. What he never recorded, no photo. And which we certainly ignore as much as we have recorded it through countless photos. Who is our face after all? The photo of the sixth grade, the photo of the police ID, the degree, the other one, the wedding smile or maybe the one we took with wine and red eyes in a bouzouki shop at a mature age? Who is our face after all? Do we have one and only one person or many? Or, maybe none? And is our only face what art can save? In this case, painting, sculpture and not photography? Because that’s what it’s about. Manos Ioannidis adamantly shows that the face (of us) is more of a free, improvised composition than a measured and measurable construction. Our face, whether we endure it or not, is more poetic arbitrariness than a logical and rational record. But what does it mean to be portrayed? What does the desire, better, the hysteria of our time, mean with the constant immortalization of our face? What does selfie madness mean? Does it mean: I am immortalized, so I anxiously overcome death? Or, otherwise I abolish him, at least as far as I am concerned, as another painter and poet, Nikos Eggonopoulos, would say? Or, at least, do I postpone it? Does art have such power? Manos Ioannidis with his portraits, which are indirect references to his own life and his loves, which are also the proof of his devotion to painting, proves it brilliantly. So here, above all, we have the ironic comment of a non-negotiable documentary-narrative painter in the so-called athematic or abstract art but also the reminder that a single person is enough to unfold a story. And that without a myth as a basis, even the most commonplace, there can be not only painting but no art form. Since art was and is what was insisted today by God … And His Face. Manos Stefanidis Manos Stefanidis Art Critic and Art Historian, Author. Professor of Art History at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens Curator at the National Gallery.

Hotel Show MEC Athens,

“The Painter of Colors at the 100% Hotel Show: The Unique Presence of Manos Ioannidis”

The presence of Manos Ioannidis, known as “The Painter of Colors” at  the 100% Hotel Show at MEK Paiania, highlighted the artist’s refined aesthetic and professionalism. The event took place from November 18th to 20th, 2023, attracting the attention of industry professionals as well as art enthusiasts. Manos’ presence at this prestigious event confirmed his

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VIPSummer begins from Mykonos

Vacations In Paradise A curated artistic journey featuring renowned artists, bringing creativity and expression to the heart of Mykonos. Artists: Inspired & Curated by: Chris Barjoka (Χρύσα Μπαρζόκα) Venue: Syrioti Hall (Αίθουσα Συριώτη), MykonosA distinguished exhibition space, part of the Municipal Art Gallery of Mykonos, hosting artistic and cultural events. With the Kind Support of:

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“Dive into Color”: a colorful exhibition at Markidi Gallery

“I hope my works convey to the viewer feelings of joy, optimism and euphoria”Works by the outstanding artist Despina Papandreou are in conversation with the colorist of the “Painter of Colors” Manos Ioannidis at the exhibition “Dive into Color” at the Markidis Gallery in Thessaloniki. Mrs. Papandreou shared a few words about the exhibition and

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WOMEN AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AS SEEN THROUGH THE PAINTINGS OF MANOS IOANNIDIS:THE OPENING OF THE GROUP EXHIBITION “37°” AT THE ILIAS LALAOUNIS JEWELRY MUSEUM, 04/03/2023.

The women-symbols, working as a source of inspiration for both Greece and the rest of the world, were the focus of the art exhibition “37°”, which took place on Saturday 04/03/2023 under the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis, at the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum. In view of Women’s Day and in order to honor these

WOMEN AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AS SEEN THROUGH THE PAINTINGS OF MANOS IOANNIDIS:THE OPENING OF THE GROUP EXHIBITION “37°” AT THE ILIAS LALAOUNIS JEWELRY MUSEUM, 04/03/2023. Read More »

THE OPENING OF THE GROUP EXHIBITION TITLED “EROS” AT THE MUNICIPAL GALLERY OF THESSALONIKI, 14/02/2023.

-A group exhibition of the artistic group “PERSISTENT ART” curated by the artist Chrysa Barzoka. A large number of art lovers attended the opening of the group exhibition titled “EROS” at the Municipal Art Gallery of Thessaloniki, Casa Bianca, making it one of the most crowded in recent times. The visitors held the opportunity to

THE OPENING OF THE GROUP EXHIBITION TITLED “EROS” AT THE MUNICIPAL GALLERY OF THESSALONIKI, 14/02/2023. Read More »

The artworks of the painter of colors Manos Ioannidis at the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki.

The opening of the group art exhibition titled Eros – Aline Fernandez-Diaz & Spyros Alibertis. will take place on Tuesday 14 December 2023, at 19.30, at the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki –Casa Bianca. Inspired by the love story of the Casa Bianca couple, Aline and Spyros, the visual creators of theartistic group-project named PERSISTENT ART,

The artworks of the painter of colors Manos Ioannidis at the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki. Read More »

“The unique paintings of Manos Ioannidis in the lighting shop PETRIDIS of Thessaloniki”.

Anyone can have the opportunity to admire the artworks of the painter of colors, simply byvisiting the Petridis lighting shop, situated at the street Adrianoupoleos 6 in Thessaloniki. The characteristically colorful portraits of Melina Merkouri, Irini Papas and Marias Kallas, are dominantly placed at the front space of the store, highlighting it in an ideal

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“An afternoon event at the foyer of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Thessaloniki, alongside the
artworks of the painter of colors, Manos Ioannidis”.

More than 250 art friends and art lovers attended the event that took place on Sunday 15/01/2023. The tour concerning the unique, colorful portraits of the “painter of colors” took place in an intensely creative atmosphere, full of artistic inspiration. At the same time, the unique experience was ideally complemented by the lounge melodies of

“An afternoon event at the foyer of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Thessaloniki, alongside the
artworks of the painter of colors, Manos Ioannidis”.
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