ATHENS – On May 14, the Museum of Cycladic Art opens its doors to the public with the two new exhibitions, Antiquarianism and Philhellenism: The Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection in the Stathatos Mansion and Sterling Ruby at Cycladic: Ceramics placed amongst the Museum's permanent collection of Cycladic Art and in the Dolly Goulandris Wing. The Cycladic Café and the Cycladic Shop will also be open, having taken all the necessary measures and following state guidelines to safeguard the health and safety of visitors and staff.

The exhibition Antiquarianism and Philhellenism: The Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection is held on the occasion of the 200th anniversary from the declaration of the Greek War of Independence. The collection boasts important European works of the 19th century and of Greek Neoclassicism in dialogue with ancient masterpieces, curated by Art Historian Dr Fani-Maria Tsigakou and Professor Nikolaos Ch. Stampolidis. The exhibits have been selected mostly from the Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection, a unique "vault" of Philhellenic objets d’art and chefs d’oeuvre and will be exhibited publicly for the first time. These are European Philhellenic artistic creations, as well as works by Greek artists inspired by subjects from antiquity, which are presented alongside important antiquities from major museums in Italy and Greece, such as the Capitoline Museums of Rome, the National Archaeological Museum of Venice, the Archaeological Museum of Ostia, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Ancient Eleftherna and the Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon. The exhibition will be open until June 21 and is held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sports and co-organized with and sponsored by the AEGEAS Non-Profit Civil Company for Culture and Social Welfare.

The Sterling Ruby at Cycladic: Ceramics will run May 14-June 21 and will be presented on the first floor of the Museum and in the Dolly Goulandris Wing. The Museum has invited internationally acclaimed American artist Sterling Ruby for an artistic intervention among the Museum's permanent collections, showcasing a selection of his famous ceramic sculptures. The exhibition includes a total of 21 ceramic works and is realized with the kind support of Gagosian. It is the second instance, following the Ai Weiwei at Cycladic exhibition in 2016, that the Museum has invited an artist to juxtapose their work with its permanent collections. This time, Sterling Ruby, who continuously pushes the boundaries of artistic creation, places a selection of his works loaned to the Museum among the rare artifacts of its famous Cycladic Art Collection.

The Museum of Cycladic Art has taken all necessary measures for its smooth and safe operation. It is reminded that, in addition to required measures, the Museum cooperates with an inspection, certification and auditing company, SGS, and has been awarded a special mark certifying the effectiveness of its cleaning and disinfection procedures (including against SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19) on all its premises. SGS is the largest company specializing in inspections, supervisions, verifications, laboratory analyses and certifications worldwide and has been operating in Greece since 1933.

To protect visitors, the Museum has taken the following measures:

•           The Museum's air conditioning systems follow state guidelines for safe operation

•           All areas of the Museum are constantly disinfected by a certified cleaning crew

•           Visitors are required to follow a planned route through the Museum

•           Safe distances of 2 meters must be observed

•           The use of a mask by visitors and staff is mandatory

•           Visitors are temperature-checked at the entrance of the Museum

•           A reduced number of visitors is allowed in the Permanent Collections, the temporary exhibitions, the Cycladic Shop and the Cycladic Café of the Museum

•           The use of an e-ticket is recommended. E-tickets are validated contactless upon entering the Museum

•           Payment by card is recommended

•           Only 1 person is allowed to enter the elevator at any one time

•           Use of the staircase is recommended

•           No large luggage is allowed

Ticket prices:

Sterling Ruby at Cycladic: Ceramics

Entrance: €10 (entrance to Permanent Collections included)

Reduced: €7

Free entrance to MCA Friends

https://www.viva.gr/tickets/museum/museum-of-cycladic-art/sterling-ruby/

Antiquarianism and Philhellenism: The Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection

Entrance: €5

Reduced: €5

Free entrance to MCA Friends

https://www.viva.gr/tickets/museum/museum-of-cycladic-art/1821/

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10 AM-5 PM, Thursday: 10 AM-8 PM, Sunday: 11 AM-5 PM, Tuesday: Closed.

Museum of Cycladic Art

4 Neophytou Douka Str

106 74, Athens

Phone: (+30) 210 7228321-3

www.cycladic.gr

Facebook: CycladicArtMuseum

Instagram: @cycladic_museum