As autumn settles gently over Athens, the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation opens its doors to a month of art, conversation, music, and discovery. This October, the museum is not just a place to admire masterpieces — it’s a space where art comes alive through sound, story, and sensory experience.
Step inside its elegant home in Pangrati and let your curiosity wander: learn the secrets of Greek herbs in a tea-tasting inspired by Cézanne’s countryside, join a captivating discussion with leading figures in the history of art, explore the political cinema of Costa-Gavras, and lose yourself in a series of musical performances that echo the energy of the museum’s major retrospective — “Takis 1∞”, celebrating a hundred years since the birth of the pioneering Greek artist Takis.
A Celebration of Takis: 100 Years of Innovation
Through November 2, the museum’s major retrospective “Takis 1∞” continues to fascinate visitors. Marking a century since the birth of Panayiotis Vassilakis — the pioneering Greek artist known simply as Takis — this exhibition explores his lifelong dialogue with magnetism, light, and motion.
From his iconic Télésculptures and Défis à la gravité to the legendary 1960 performance The Impossible – A Man in Space, visitors can witness how Takis turned invisible forces into art.
Film & Conversation with Greek-French film director Costa-Gavras
On Wednesday, October 29, cinephiles are in for a treat with a special screening of Costa-Gavras’ 1975 film Section spéciale — a gripping political drama with music by Takis himself.
Following the screening, there will be an online discussion with the legendary director, offering a rare chance to hear his insights on art, politics, and collaboration. The film will be shown in French with Greek subtitles.
Historians’ Stories: Insights from the Former Director of the Pompidou
The very next evening, Thursday, October 30, the museum hosts an inspiring conversation with Alfred Pacquement, former Director of the National Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou.
As part of the new “Historians’ Stories” series, Pacquement will reflect on his remarkable career and his close connection to Takis’s work.
Supported by the French Embassy, this talk offers a rare window into the world of European contemporary art — ideal for those who enjoy stories behind the exhibitions.
Music Meets Magnetism: Michalis Delta’s “Pnoe”
For lovers of sound and sensation, Michalis Delta, one of Greece’s most influential electronic composers, presents “Pnoe” (Breath) — a live performance inspired by the spirit of Takis. Blending analog synths, cello, piano, and poetry, the show is a moving dialogue between music, image, and emotion. As Delta himself says, “Pnoe was born from the need for creative breath amid the challenges of our time.”
Guided Tours in English
Every Thursday morning (11:00–12:30), join a guided tour of the Foundation’s permanent collection in English. Discover a breathtaking array of works by Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Miró, Pollock, Bacon, and many others, alongside masterpieces by celebrated Greek artists such as Moralis, Tsarouchis, and Fassianos.
It’s the perfect way to spend a late morning immersed in modern art — and an ideal introduction for newcomers to Athens.
Explore Greek Herbs and Tea Tasting
Starting Wednesday, October 22, art meets flavor in an intimate herbal tasting experience inspired by Paul Cézanne’s The Countryside of Auvers-sur-Oise. Led by Angeliki Drakou of Grizo & Prasino, guests explore the world of Greek herbs and their aromas, connecting nature, art, and wellbeing.
It’s an aromatic journey that turns a simple cup of tea into a moment of reflection and harmony.
Floral Art: Bouquet Workshop
Also beginning October 22, the beloved flower arranging workshops return with agricultural technologist Maria Papadopoulou. Each monthly session draws inspiration from artworks in the collection, helping participants create their own floral compositions — while learning the secrets of color, scent, and bloom preservation.
Participants leave not only with their own bouquet but with a new appreciation for the art of nature itself.
Jazz at the Museum: “Respiro e Sospiro”
On Friday, October 24, the museum’s amphitheatre fills with the voice of internationally acclaimed soprano Myrto Papathanasiou. Opening this year’s expanded Jazz at the Museum series — now titled Her Voice — the concert explores the beauty of breath and emotion through Italian and French arias, accompanied by pianist Dimitris Giakas.
For Families and Children
Art at Goulandris is for everyone — including the littlest visitors.
For toddlers (8 months–2.5 years), “Time for Music at the Museum!” invites families to discover rhythm and movement through live string performances, introducing children to art and sound in a playful, interactive way.
And for children aged 5+, the enchanting theatre performance “Hot Chocolate with Picasso” returns every Sunday at 11:00, bringing the magic of Picasso’s world to life through laughter, imagination, and storytelling.
Photo by: Valeria Isaeva
Tool Story: Where Machines Come to Life
Workshop for children aged 7–9 (in Greek)
What do you see inside Fernand Léger’s painting “Mechanical Element”? Cylinders that look like arms, or maybe pipes swirling through the air? In this playful workshop, children collect lost objects with a “super collector’s wand” to create a fantastic mechanical creature — giving it shape, form, and personality — before bringing their hero to life again on paper. A hands-on adventure that sparks imagination, creativity, and a love for art.
For more information and tickets, visit goulandris.gr.
