Thank you for visiting our page. Kindly note the option to bid is no longer available, however you are welcome to contact us at [email protected] for any assistance we may provide.
THI Canada has partnered with 10 renowned Greek painters representing the finest of the contemporary Greek art scene, to help raise funds for our program with HOPEgenesis.
Each painting sold through the Εύ-topia art auction will cover the costs of 2-3 pregnancies for families in remote areas of Greece, giving hope and new life to places that are facing abandonment.
The 23 professionally curated works are being presented for the first time, offering a unique opportunity for collectors, art lovers and Philhellenes to not only acquire a piece of Greece but to contribute to a philanthropic cause that will have an immediate impact on future generations of Greeks. With the Greek Diaspora in mind, they explore its unique link to the Greek landscape, or as the curator of the collection put it, to "Ευ-topia... a place linked to myth, beloved people, as well as carefree days under the sun and by the Mediterranean".
The collection is currently displayed at the Hotel Nelligan in Montreal (106 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1Z3) until December 15th.
For the people of the Greek Diaspora, Greece is a place linked to myth, beloved people, as well as carefree days under the sun and by the Mediterranean Sea. This strong link between the Greek landscape and the ideal living conditions oftentimes is referred to as a “paradise on earth”. In English, “eftopia” is pronounced similarly to “utopia”, derived from the Greek “ou” (ού) meaning “no” and “topos” (τόπος) meaning place, with the extension -iā (-ία), characteristic of toponymy in the Greek language. The name is directly translated as “nowhere”, placing emphasis on its fantastical attributes. It was used for the first time in 1516 by English humanitarian philosopher and philhellene Thomas More, who used the term to describe “an ideal place and way of life”.
The «Εὖ» used in the title of the first philanthropic art auction of The Hellenic Initiative Canada is a double entendre for the scope of the fundraiser: On one hand, It provides an international platform to introduce a valuable aspect of the modern Greek art scene to foreign audiences, organizations, and collectors. Furthermore, the content and aesthetics of the collection does not only take inspiration from Greek topographical or archaeological themes, it also includes images taken from today’s reality. This signifies in turn the will to overcome the difficulties the Greek nation has been facing over the past few years, while motivating Greeks across the globe to join these efforts.
Leading this effort are ten distinguished Greek artists, who symbolically carry the torch from great artists of the past, such as Spyros Vasileiou, Giannis Moralis, Giorgos Vakirtzis, Panagiotis Tetsis, who had been assigned to produce works of art for the promotion of Greek art outside Greece. The Greek tourism poster continues to fascinate audiences as something that encompasses an ideal place: where the sun is always shining bright, the sea is peaceful, and the Aegean island houses stand out as if they emerged from a dream. The reality of today, which is deeply personal, is represented through the works of the leading Greek creators. The artwork that will be auctioned does not exclusively portray idyllic places where we seek to escape from reality, they also include memories of our collective consciousness; they reflect the Greece we all carry, the one we dream of, our very own “Arcadia”.
Once you have chosen the painting you would like to bid on, you can click on the button “Bid now” under the picture. You will be redirected to our secure bidding platform where you can submit your bid. The process involves the following simple steps:
The auction will end on December 15th 2021 at 8:00 pm EST, at which point the highest bidders for each item will receive a message informing them that they have won the item and further instructions.
After the auction ends, you will receive a notice that you are the winner for the item, along with an electronic invoice and options for shipping or picking up the item.
Yes. When you receive the email notification that you are the winning bidder for an item, if you would like the invoice to be issued to a company or a different name, please contact us at [email protected], and we will issue the invoice based on the details provided.
We request your credit card information for verification purposes. No charges will be made to your registered credit card until you have won an item you have bid on. We request that the credit card you link to your account has sufficient funds for the bid you are placing. Your credit card details remain confidential.
The winning bid is automatically charged to your linked credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), upon the end of the auction – December 15th, 8:00 pm EST.
Shipping can be arranged according to the buyer’s preferred method. Shipping charges are the buyer’s responsibility.
If you are in the Montreal area you can pick up the winning items from the Nelligan Hotel (106 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1Z3) – by appointment only. Only fully paid items will be released for pick up.
No. Only the amount of the current highest bid is displayed, ensuring anonymity.
If you are outbid on an item, you will receive an e-mail and text message confirming you have been "outbid", meaning you need to click the button in the email and raise your bid in order to have a chance to win the selected item.