Vandalized artwork removed to restore calm at gallery

Athens’ National Gallery has removed artworks by artist Christophoros Katsadiotis, with his consent, in an effort to defuse tensions following a violent attack several days ago by an ultra-conservative MP who claimed the pieces were offensive to Orthodox Christianity.

The controversy erupted last Monday when far-right Niki party MP Nikolaos Papadopoulos stormed the gallery, shattered a display case, and removed four religious-themed paintings by Katsadiotis, denouncing them as blasphemous. His actions have sparked unrest outside the gallery over the past week. 

On Wednesday, tensions escalated further as ultra-Orthodox protesters clashed with cultural workers staging a peaceful demonstration in defense of artistic freedom.

In a statement, the National Gallery said it removed Katsadiotis’ works to ensure the safety of the institution, its staff, visitors, and artworks, while also seeking to restore normal operations.

Kathimerini