Editorial

The Speculative Eye of Thanassis Lalas
An exhibition charting the career of Thanassis
Lalas was held at Omikron Gallery,
in Nicosia last October to mark the 50
years anniversary of Phileleftheros newspaper.
The exhibition was organized in
collaboration with the Pierides Foundation
and with the support of the Bank of
Cyprus.
Entitled "The Speculative Eye of Thanassis
Lalas", the exhibition captures the
famous journalist’s career spanning 40
years from 1964 – 2003.
Over his career as a reporter for Greek
newspaper "To Vima", one of most
powerful political newspaper in Greece,
Lalas has conducted some high profile
interviews with the likes of Peter Hall,
Franco Zefirelli, Woody Allen, Sean Connery,
Angela Georgiou and many other
celebrities. The exhibition entails original
excerpts from Lala’ s interview notes along
with his satirical sketches. The note-books
offer an insight into Lala’ s humorous world
full of originality and imagination where,
satire and irony reign supreme.
Lalas has a unique approach to drawing.
He uses heavy, thick brushes as if engraving
on linoleum while his colours are bright
and boisterous. Sketching for Lalas is a
form of provocation. His world is a
stage on which he plays out his artistic
actions through both words and drawing.
Although a well-respected journalist who
does not underestimate the power of writing,
he always felt that words were just not
enough. An image is, quite often, stronger
in getting through the message and his
images acted like fireworks.
Marina Lambraki Plaka, director of the
National Gallery of Greece, appreciated
the quality of Lala’ s drawings: "They have
a huge variety, are attractive, expressive,
strong, full of fantasy and energy. They
also keep Lala’ s humour intact and support
his writings. I think they provide a
bittersweet accompaniment to his interviews".
65