We owe him, among many others, two popular historical logos: the Olympiakos teenager crowned with laurel and the Aces Filter cigarettes. But how many of us know the name of the “father” of graphic design in Greece? Angelos Spachis (1903-1960) died early, on the one hand, his leftist political views made him seek obscurity himself, so as not to become a target. In fact, one of his employers, the tobacco manufacturer Papastratos, although he had completely different political convictions, defended him in his honor, otherwise the painter, stage designer and graphic artist would certainly have gone down the path of exile. Self-taught, talented, innovator, versatile, Spahis was forced to devote himself to many subjects in order to earn a living, and to this day his work is not only forgotten but fragmented.

Six decades after his death, a major exhibition at the National Library is dedicated to this creator, who worked in industry, publishing, theater and as a cartoonist. Together with Nikos Kastanakis, he founded Atelier Kastanaki-Spachi, which until 1935 was engaged in the design of dance evenings, product advertising, book illustrations and scenery for numerous theater productions. In addition to Papastratos, he also worked for Keranis, and so many brands of tobacco products had his “signature” at a time when no one knew the value of graphic designers. However, this required effort and passion from the curators of the exhibition, the great architect, urban planner and writer Alexandros Papageorgiou Venetas (a relative of Spaka), the infectious disease doctor and art connoisseur Nikos Paisios, Konstantina Dakolias and Athena Kyriakodis, so as to collect material. They managed to compose a coherent narrative of his life and career. All this, of course, with the support of Stavros Zumbulakis, head of the National Library, who also contributed to the excellent catalogue.

This exhibition, located in the atrium of the 4th floor, was visited a few days ago by a doctor of medical sciences. During the tour, which lasted for an hour, he had the opportunity to see firsthand how Spahis was able to embrace the problems of contemporary art of his time, although he did not travel abroad. After the tour, the President of the Republic presented the National Library with a book by the Latvian writer Aspasia (pseudonym Elsa Rozenberga). The book, an example of the influence of Greek culture on Latvian literature, was presented to Ms. Sakellaropoulou in two copies by the Speaker of the Latvian Parliament, Inara Murniece, during their meeting in Parliament in Riga last June.