The vandalism of the new statue of Constantine Cavafy in Dionysiou Areopagitou, in the heart of Athens, has caused a reaction.
The work, which depicts the important Alexandrian poet seated on a bronze bench, was damaged when an unknown person broke part of the figure’s glass. The incident brings to the fore concerns about the protection of public art, especially in one of the capital’s most iconic and busy areas.
The statue was recently installed to bring Cavafy’s figure and work closer to the city’s everyday life. The choice to depict the poet seated on a bench seeks to create a more direct and human connection with passers-by, embedding poetry in public space and collective memory.
Nevertheless, just a few weeks after its installation, the sculpture suffered damage, highlighting once again the issue of vandalism in public spaces and the inadequate protection of cultural works.
The issue was brought to public attention by actor and MP for Plevisi Eleftherias, Spyros Bibilas, through a highly charged post on social media.
The post of Spyros Bibilas
.
