Maria Antipa: A Greek culture ambassador in London
Maria Andipa is a legendary representative of the Greek community in London. She has been running the famous ANDIPA Gallery, located in South Kensington, heart of the British capital and a reference point for contemporary visual multicultural art. She talked to us about her childhood years in Ierosolyma, the economic crisis in Greece, the annual contribution she makes to Greek child care institutions, especially nowadays, as the Greek people are going through a difficult time with unemployment and poverty soaring, as well as her renowned gallery in London, where she hosts the works of Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Moore, Chagall, Banksy, Warhol, Martin, Hockney and many more remarkable contemporary European artists. She has put her soul and her knowledge in this gallery, organizing exhibitions of the most important European visual artists, for more than half a century.
Prominent British and English people, politicians, artists and authors, are always present at the openings of the exhibitions taking place in Maria Andipa’s gallery. A collection of paintings from the greatest artists, Picasso, Matis, Miro, Changal, etc, is always at display in the two-storey building. Andipa likes to keep in touch with the new generation of artists, and to achieve that, for the past few years she has been hosting one artist – either from the older or from the newer generation – each month. Meanwhile, she freely offers the gallery’s theatre for the performances of Greek creators living in Britain.
Her childhood years in Ierosolyma and her arrival in London
I was born in Ierosolyma to Greek parents. My father hailed from Lixouri, Kefallonia, while my mother was from Constantinople. My parents met in Alexandria, Egypt, where my father was stationed as a British Army official at the time, while my mother’s family had lost all their fortune and the carpet factory they used to run when the Turks expelled all the Greeks from Constantinople. Our ancestors from Kefallonia where famous collectors and art dealers in Venice.
I spent my childhood years in and out of the Greek Orthodox monasteries of the area, as well as in the Greek school, where I became immersed in Byzantine ecclesiastical art, gathering unforgettable life experiences that would mark my later life. My brother went to Canada, while I moved to London in order to film a movie. I became an actress before devoting myself to visual art. I have appeared in several James Bond movies, the most important being “From Russia with love” that was filmed in 1963 and premiered in London, alongside very important actors, however my heart was ultimately given to visual art. That’s how I came to live permanently in London, however, my heart and soul is always with Greece.
Our family is scattered all over the world – in America, in Europe and in Australia, where my cousins live. They are doctors and lawyers living in Perth and Sidney. Byzantine art is my great love and weakness and I first presented Byzantine icons here in London. Chagall and several famous artists were inspired by byzantine art. In the past, I have organized several exhibitions showcasing byzantine art now and in the past.
Us, the Greeks living abroad love Greece twice as much
I’ve only lived in Greece for 3 years, I’ve spent my life travelling abroad, but I carry Greece along in my soul. Us, the Greeks living abroad, love Greece twice as much, we care for our country, it is our point of reference, we have been doing and will continue to do whatever is necessary for our country to overcome its financial and humanitarian crisis. We will eventually overcome this problem. Our people have gone through so much worse, but we always overcome difficulties, we never give up. I wish that all Greeks were united. Unity of all Greek forces, is what our country needs, both without and within. We are all brothers and sisters, no matter where we are, we never stop caring for our country.
If we had kept together, we, the Greeks, could have performed miracles
I have been deeply moved by the crisis in Greece, but I see that Greeks are not united, there is no common policy. At the moment a Government has been elected, that needs our support. If we Greeks had kept together, we would have performed miracles, we would turned Greece in the best country in the world. That’s what our friends, the British artists, who care for us and hope that we will soon get back on our feet, keep telling me. Europe originated from Greece, all European countries are a big family and our contribution towards the European culture, both ancient and modern, is huge, and that is something they should not forget. We are the cradle of Europe. I say this deliberately, having lived for more than 7 decades. Our Greece needs unity and solidarity. We are both Greeks and Europeans!
Furthermore, every Sunday, I freely offer the space in my gallery called “the small theatre” to Greek artists living in Britain, where they can present books, they can give lectures, performances and concerts. Helping the new generation of Greeks living in Britain is a very nice thing to do, as it allows me to experience the making of art by modern Greek artists, who have found their second home in London and who keep trying to survive by producing art.
My book regarding the Greeks of Palestine
I am currently writing a book in English about the life of my family and the Greeks of Palestine, using as a backdrop the persecutions that took place during that time and the living conditions of the Greek people that used to reside there. I have also used a lot of historical facts about the Greek people living abroad back then. The book is going to come out in London and it’s going to be in English, however it is my wish that eventually some good publishing house will endeavor to publish it in Greek.
As a president of the Ionian Society of London, I always organize charities during the holidays, in order to send help to orphanages and institutions in Greece. It is with great joy that each Christmas the Greek community in London sends gifts to organizations such as “To chamogelo tou paidiou (child’s smile)”, the “Ark (Kivotos)”, SOS villages (orphan houses), orphanages in Eptanisa etc.
This year we sent our contribution to the church of Piraeus in order to support their feeding program. Furthermore, we offer help for the maintenance of byzantine icons in monasteries in Kefallonia, Ithaca, Lefkada etc.
