Thread – the journey

BAZEOS TOWER

The tower dates back to the 17th century and belongs to the most typical group of monuments in Naxos, dating from 13th to the 18th century. The reason for the common presence of such buildings has its sources in the social and historic conditions prevailing in post-Byzantine years. Great uncertainty prevailed at the time in the Aegean, because of the frequent pirate raids that had not stopped since the Byzantine era and also because of the feudal system on the island, which after having being introduced and systematically applied during Venetian rule, survived during the years of Turkish rule. 

At first, this castle functioned as a monastery and was called monastery of the True Cross (“Timios Stavros”). In the first decades of the 19th century however, the last remaining monks abandoned it and in 1834 it became the property of the newly founded Greek state. 

For many years the castle offered hospitality to families of potters who lived there and practiced their tradecraft. Later on, by the end of the 19th century, the castle was sold by the Greek government and was bought by the Bazeos (Bassegio - http://www.baseggio.net) family, whose descendants are the current owners. In the Venetian tradition of the island, the family maintained its primary residence in Chora, while also using the tower as a summer residence and agricultural provisions storage area. Its last descendent, appreciating the importance and historical value of the building, continues its upkeep with particular care and aesthetic awareness. 

In 2000, the first phase of restoration was completed, through the exclusive use of private funds, under the supervision of the National Technical University (NTU) architects, Themistocles Bilis and Maria Magnisali. Since then it has functioned as a cultural activities space [ link ]

“Thread – the journey”

Olga Plastira, sculpture

Andrzej Wisniewski, painting

Bazeos Tower 15/6-8/9/2013

Olga Plastira chooses the Naxos marble for her work and creations.This dual choice and her artistic devotion are dynamically reflected in the creations.Her sculptures draw inspiration and strength from the myths and the endless history of the land, they engage in a metaphysical relationship with the forms and structures of the age-old Cycladic art, and are in harmony with the scale and plasticity of the island landscape. 

The artist senses the energy of the matter and of the land carefully unrolls the thread (mitos) avoiding stereotypes and known paths, embarks on new personal quests and voyages, while claiming her artistic identity in the modern era.

She tries, rejects and combines the marble with metal and clay; she is in a constant dialogue with the other arts, the prose and painting. She meets and converses with other artists inviting them in a creative co-existence. 

In the exhibition hosted at Bazeos Tower, Olga Plastira invites the Polish painter, engraver and world citizen Andrzej Wisniewski. The plethoric and enigmatic nature of his works is in contrast to Plastiras’ simplicity and clear articulation. Their co-presence in the exhibition, in a historically-loaded space, is a unique experience punctuated in the present and forming a persistent memory for the future.

Curator-Organizer: Mario Vazaios 

Music Installation: Thodoris Oikonomou