Presented on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice during this year’s Biennale, the Imago Mundi project is a truly ambitious artistic initiative by the Luciano Benetton Collection which seeks to trace or map the world through its art. No less than 6,930 artists from over 40 countries and all five continents were commissioned to create one or more new works for the project, and were given a carte blanche to create in any medium they like and using any theme with but one restriction: the resulting work had to be on a wooden frame measuring 10x12 cm. As part of this sweeping global art undertaking, over 140 Greek artists were invited to take part, from young creatives at the beginning of their careers to older-generation, established figures.

© Ιmago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

© Ιmago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

© Ιmago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

© Ιmago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

© Ιmago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

© Ιmago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

It is artistic thought that creates the world. The movement of ideas across borders, ideas that dialogue with each other and create links. And maybe slowly, but unfailingly, change things, nations, and humanity.

Luciano Benetton
DIMITRIS SKALKOTOSGREY2014, Greece.

DIMITRIS SKALKOTOS
GREY
2014, Greece.

NIKOS LARIOS
NIKE2014, Greece.

NIKOS LARIOS

NIKE
2014, Greece.

BOB STUDIO
POP EYE2014, Greece.

BOB STUDIO

POP EYE
2014, Greece.

BEND
FEEDBACK2014, Greece.

BEND

FEEDBACK
2014, Greece.

Photography, figurative painting, abstract compositions, illustration, digital prints and more techniques make up the Greek chapter in this atlas of art —some minimal and subtle in their execution, others overtly humorous and absurd, others more like small sculptures that burst out of their tiny containing frame. Not to be read as a “who is who” of the local contemporary art scene but more as a spontaneous contribution to an admittedly exciting artistic project, the Greek section of Imago Mundi successfully reflects the styles and talent of the many inspired creatives living in the country. As with every other country that is part of the project, all the works by Greek artists have been published in a glossy volume titled “Imago Mundi Greece: Traces of Today”, accompanied by essays from Greek art historians and critics.

Greece: Traces of Today' cover.
© Imago mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

Greece: Traces of Today' cover.

© Imago mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection.

INO VARVARITIHOMMAGE ÀFERNAND BRAUDEL2014, Greece.

INO VARVARITI
HOMMAGE À
FERNAND BRAUDEL
2014, Greece.

DIMITRIS SKALKOTOSGREY (back)2014, Greece.

DIMITRIS SKALKOTOS
GREY (back)
2014, Greece.

THANOS TSIOUSIS
THE VOW2014, Greece.

THANOS TSIOUSIS

THE VOW
2014, Greece.

GIORGOS TSERIONISDREAMER2014, Greece.

GIORGOS TSERIONIS
DREAMER
2014, Greece.

BEND
FEEDBACK (back)2014, Greece.

BEND

FEEDBACK (back)
2014, Greece.

GREECE IS FOR LOVERSSOFT POWER 42014, Greece.

GREECE IS FOR LOVERS
SOFT POWER 4
2014, Greece.

PEGGY KLIAFA
PILL CANDY2014, Greece.

PEGGY KLIAFA

PILL CANDY
2014, Greece.

YIANNIS SKALTSAS
UNTITLED2014, Greece.

YIANNIS SKALTSAS

UNTITLED
2014, Greece.

YIANNIS SKALTSAS 
UNTITLED (back)2014, Greece.

YIANNIS SKALTSAS 

UNTITLED (back)
2014, Greece.

EFI SPYROU
EDGED SUN2014, Greece.

EFI SPYROU

EDGED SUN
2014, Greece.

VERSAWEISS
THREE IN THE ATTIC2014, Greece.

VERSAWEISS

THREE IN THE ATTIC
2014, Greece.

VERSAWEISS 
THREE IN THE ATTIC (back)2014, Greece.

VERSAWEISS 

THREE IN THE ATTIC (back)
2014, Greece.

KLEOPATRA HARITOUENTRANCE-EXIT2014, Greece.

KLEOPATRA HARITOU
ENTRANCE-EXIT
2014, Greece.

YIORGOS HOURSOGLOU (KEZ)INNER DISHARMONY 12014, Greece.

YIORGOS HOURSOGLOU (KEZ)
INNER DISHARMONY 1
2014, Greece.

DIMITRIS FOUTRIS
FEEL / I WANT 1
2014, Greece.

DIMITRIS FOUTRIS

FEEL / I WANT 1

2014, Greece.

KONSTANTINOSPATSIOSBLUE 12014, Greece.

KONSTANTINOS
PATSIOS
BLUE 1
2014, Greece.

MARINA VELISIOTI
HAPPENS TODAY2014, Greece.

MARINA VELISIOTI

HAPPENS TODAY
2014, Greece.

PETROS TOULOUDISLIKE A TREE, LIKE A DEER2014, Greece.

PETROS TOULOUDIS
LIKE A TREE, LIKE A DEER
2014, Greece.

If it were up to artists, I often say, there would be no wars.

Luciano Benetton

A World of Art: Greek Artists in Luciano Benetton's Imago Mundi Project

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