Evgenios Spatharis

{{Short description|Greek shadow theatre artist (1924–2009)}} {{Infobox person | name = Evgenios Spatharis | image = EvgeniosSpatharisImage.jpg | alt =  | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date |1924|01|02}} | birth_place = [[Kifissia]], [[Athens]], Greece | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|05|09|1924|01|02}} | death_place = [[Athens]], Greece | other_names = | occupation = [[Shadow theatre]] artist | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}

'''Evgenios Spatharis''' ({{langx|el|Ευγένιος Σπαθάρης}}; January 2, 1924 – May 9, 2009) was the most prominent [[shadow theatre]] artist in [[Greece]]. He is credited with having brought the traditional [[Karagiozis]] plays to mass audiences through television, recordings and cinema.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings11-2009may11,0,3648328.story|title=Evgenios Spatharis, Greek master of shadow puppet theater, dies at 85; Linda Dangcil, actress who played Sister Ana on 'The Flying Nun,' dies at 67.|date=2009-05-11|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=2009-05-18}}</ref><ref name="Kathimerini11-05">{{cite news|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100015_11/05/2009_107054|title=Renowned shadow-puppet master dies at age of 85|date=2009-05-11|work=[[Kathimerini]]|publisher=ekathimerini.com|accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref><ref name="ana-mpa">{{cite news|url=http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=7587399&maindocimg=7586909&service=144|title=Shadow puppeteer Spatharis passes away|work=Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency|publisher=ana-mpa.gr|accessdate=2009-05-15|archive-date=2011-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055214/http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=7587399&maindocimg=7586909&service=144|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="cbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/greek-shadow-puppeteer-spatharis-dies-at-85-1.794366|title=Greek shadow puppeteer Spatharis dies at 85|work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|publisher=cbc.ca|access-date=2009-05-15 | date=2009-05-10}}</ref><ref name="Kathimerini14-05">{{cite news|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_1_14/05/2009_107148|title=Final farewell to Spatharis the puppet master|date=2009-05-14|work=[[Kathimerini]]|publisher=ekathimerini.com|accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref>

==Biography== Evgenios Spatharis was born in [[Kifissia]] in 1924, son of Sotiris Spatharis, himself a famous puppeteer.<ref name="ERTNEWS10-05">{{cite news|url=http://news.ert.gr/en/22102-efyge-o-eygenios-spatharis.htm |title=Evgenios Spatharis Passes Away |date=2009-05-10 |work=[[Hellenic Radio and Television|ERT]] |publisher=news.ert.gr |accessdate=2009-05-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512010748/http://news.ert.gr/en/22102-efyge-o-eygenios-spatharis.htm |archivedate=May 12, 2009 }}</ref> He progressively got introduced to his father's art, despite his father's reluctance, since his wish was for Evgenios to become an architect. His first public performances were during the [[Axis occupation of Greece|German occupation of Greece]], when he frequently used heroic themes in order to strengthen the morale of the population. During one of his shows, the Germans arrested him and brought him to the local ''Kommandantur'' for interrogation. Using an old connection of his, he managed to perform for them and they were so impressed that they decided to send him to perform to Germany.<ref name="ana-mpa" />

Besides being the most famous performer of [[Karagiozis]], he was also an accomplished painter, with over 50 exhibitions of his works.

He has collaborated with many of the most important Greek artists, like [[Manos Hadjidakis]], [[Dionysis Savvopoulos]], [[Rallou Manou]], [[Stavros Xarchakos]], [[Melina Merkouri]] and others.<ref name="Eleftherotypia11-05Greek">{{cite journal|last=Hadjiantoniou|first=Natalie|date=2009-05-11|script-title=el:Ο Καραγκιόζης στον Παράδεισο|journal=[[Eleftherotypia]]|publisher=enet.gr|language=Greek|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.texnes&id=43011|accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref>

==Honorary memberships and awards== Spatharis was a member of the Chamber of Artists of Greece and the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. He was awarded the Rome Prize in 1962, the Toscanini medal in 1978 and several other awards, while in 2007 the Greek culture ministry awarded him the title of 'Grand Master' in recognition of his great contribution to his art.<ref name="ana-mpa" /><ref name="cbc" /><ref name="ERTNEWS10-05" />

==Death== Spatharis was invited to an event at the Athens [[Goethe Institut]] on Wednesday, 6 May, where he was scheduled to give a lecture. While heading to the lecture room, he [[falling (accident)|fell]] from the stairs and had a severe head injury.<ref name="Kathimerini08-05">{{cite news|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_1_08/05/2009_106949|title=Veteran Spatharis in hospital|date=2009-05-08|work=[[Kathimerini]]|publisher=ekathimerini.com|accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref> He was immediately transported to KAT hospital; however, he never recovered and died the following Saturday, at the age of 85.<ref name="latimes" /><ref name="Kathimerini11-05" /><ref name="ana-mpa" /><ref name="cbc" />

==Legacy== Especially in his last two decades, Spatharis enjoyed wide acclaim and respect as a towering figure of the Greek shadow theatre and of cultural life in general. His death caused a stream of encomia from critics, journalists and public figures.

He created the [[Spathario Museum]] in 1991, devoted exclusively to his art.<ref name="ana-mpa" /><ref name="Eleftherotypia11-05Greek" />

==References== {{More footnotes|date=May 2009}} {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0817183}} *[http://www.karagiozismuseum.gr/ Spathario Museum website]

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Spatharis, Evgenios}} [[Category:1924 births]] [[Category:2009 deaths]] [[Category:Greek puppeteers]] [[Category:Accidental deaths from falls in Greece]] [[Category:Artists from Athens]] [[Category:Shadow play]]