Eugenios Spatharis

Eugenios Spatharis (2 January 1924-9 May 2009) was an artist of Greek shadow theater, one of the most important Karagiozis and painter. Born in Kifissia. After his schooling he started painting and especially with the heroes of the shadow theater, from the pioneers of which was his father, Sotiris Spatharis, who died in 1974. In fact this familiarized with the artistic genre and he began to give himself shows, initially during the occupation, in theaters of Athens, embassies, etc .. in the Gennadius Library Since then gave plethora of shows, both in Greece and abroad, participating in international festivals and conferences specifically for the shadow theater. In 1970 he released 13 volumes illustrated with black and white figures and color cover. While 1979 presented by publications Nefeli successful book "Karagiozis of SPATHARI" with seven projects and seven abstracts (four own all three of Sotiris father) Eugene Spatharis was a member of the Artistic Chamber of Greece and the Institute of UNESCO World Theatre. He toured in many countries taking part in various festivals and conferences such as: Paris, Liege, Rome, Cairo, London, Copenhagen. But as a painter took part in many exhibitions, solo and group exhibitions in Athens, Zurich, Paris and New York. He received the Rome Prize (1962), with the first Medal of Prince of Mont, the first Polish Prize (1978), the first medal Toscanini (Italy) in 1978, etc. Finally, in 2007 especially honored by the Greek Ministry of Culture for his great contribution to the artistic genre, for which the title of great teacher recognized. In 1991 he founded in Spathario Shadow Municipality of Maroussi Museum, which systematically works since 1996, with the aim of highlighting the shadow theater and shadow theater. On May 6, 2009 while he was in Athens Goethe Institute to attend an event in his honor, he lost his balance and fell from the stairs, thus suffered many fractures and create severe hematoma in the brain, the condition to qualify as critical Finally, on May 9, after three days of hospitalization she died at the age of 85 years. His body was exposed to public veneration in Spathario Shadow Theatre Museum and the funeral took place on May 13, 2009 in Maroussi, at public expense