A Talk by Apostolos Doxiades at the Aegean Center, October 28th

Paros attracts creative persons: many painters, sculptors, photographers, and writers are denizens of our island, however invisibly. They live here some of the year, much of the year, or even all year.  Many come to the Aegean Center to share their thoughts, ideas, and presence with our students.

On October 28th we were fortunate enough to have one such artist, Apostolos Doxiades.  He and his family have a house here and he gets on the ferry to Paros when his busy life allows. This was ‘Ochi Day’ – the holiday that commemorates Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’ rejection of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28, 1940 – and so there was a festive air about town despite the rain (on a farming island, rain is welcome).

After an introduction by John Pack, Apostolos spoke to us for about an-hour-and-a-half on many subjects.  A widely and passionately learned man, he wears his erudition lightly, and he was entertaining as well as formative.  He discussed the origins of Romanticism, the modern Greek conundrum, his choice of language in which to write (he alternates between Greek and English), the joys and difficulties of the writer’s life, the connections between mathematics and literature, and more. The room was full; students, teachers, andfriends of the Aegean Center allowed for standing room only. Afterwards our minds were abuzz with new ideas, associations, and questions.

Apostolos has directed movies; produced, directed, acted in, and written plays; delivered many lectures; and written many essays.  Of late he has concentrated on fiction, and his books are easily available. The last one I read is a graphic novel, called Logicomix, that investigates the search for absolute mathematical truths as narrated by Bertrand Russell.  It is both educational and delightful, like Apostolos himself. Check his website: www.apostolosdoxiadis.com/en for further information.

And we expect we see him again at the Aegean Center.