Aris Konstantinides. Photographs and Designs

The Rethymnon Centre of Contemporary Art - "L. Kanakakis" Municipal Gallery (now the Contemporary Art Museum of Crete) inaugurated the exhibition "Aris Konstantinidis: Photographs - Drawings" on Saturday, March 18, 2000.

The exhibition featured material from the personal collection of Eppi and Manos Pavlidis, previously exhibited at "Desmos" in two separate exhibitions held in 1975 and 1976, respectively.

The Rethymnon Arts Centre, remaining true to its mission of promoting and exploring contemporary art—sometimes as a statement, sometimes as a challenge—aims to spark reflection on the work and ideas of Aris Konstantinidis. A prominent figure of the second half of the 20th century, Konstantinidis operated within the realm of architecture while simultaneously transcending its boundaries, expressing his vision and philosophy through the written word.

The photographic work and the drawings of Aris Konstantinidis present images that simultaneously capture the natural landscape and moments of everyday life, filtered through a personal perspective characterized by abstraction, simplicity, and compositional balance. Landscapes, churches, and "popular" buildings—what Konstantinidis referred to as "God-built" structures—are depicted with simplicity and precision, reflecting his investigative and contemplative gaze, as well as his deep passion and love for the Greek landscape and the sacredness of its built environment. In Konstantinidis' works, his philosophy becomes tangible: each place holds "the mystery of its life" and the architectural creations are "containers of life", shaped by and for humanity, emerging naturally and self-evidently within their surroundings.

The exhibition "Aris Konstantinidis: Photographs - Drawings" was presented on the ground floor of the "L. Kanakakis" Municipal Gallery until April 16. It was curated by Maria Marangou and Yiorgos Tzirtzilakis.

It was also accompanied by a catalogue, published with the generous support of Manos Pavlidis, featuring the exhibition material and texts by Aris Konstantinidis himself, as well as contributions by Eppi Pavlidis, Maria Marangou, and Yiorgos Tzirtzilakis.

During the exhibition, guided tours and educational programs were held.