Pera, by Akylas Millas

The exhibition “Pera, from the hand of Akylas Millas” presents the main street of Pera in Istanbul as it was until the middle of the last century. This is the first time that the drawings by Akylas Millas will be presented on a large scale to create the full scene and a clear image of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural district of the city in its most prosperous era.

Pera Street starts from Taksim Square in the center of Istanbul and reaches Galata. Along the street there are a number of historical buildings of the 19th century, mainly of a neoclassical style, such as the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Sismanoglio Megaron (which belongs to the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul), the Lyceum of Galata (one of the oldest educational institutions of the city), and the Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua, among others.

Akylas Millas (born in 1934 in Istanbul) is a doctor, historian and writer. His books contain a rich collection of buildings, documents and stamps, mainly of Asia Minor communities, documented with photographic material and sketches. By creating an archive from the remains of Asia Minor Hellenism, Akylas Millas highlights both the high intellectual and cultural level of the Greeks of Istanbul, as well as unknown elements of everyday life in the city. The Academy of Athens has honoured Akylas Millas for his intellectual contributions.

The exhibition will “revive” the buildings and street facades to scale (about 500 meters long) using the artist’s sketches. The exhibition will include audio-visual material from the wider region that encompasses a rich historical, architectural and cultural interest. Historical documentation of buildings, architectural details, as well as signs and stamps of the area’s shops will be presented in the form of photographs, texts, videos, sketches and additional material. In addition, it will include buildings produced to scale by a 3D printer.

Two lectures will be held at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Center, as part of the exhibition.

On Saturday 13 May, 12:00–14:00
“The urban plan of the Grand Avenue of Pera”, by Architect Savvas Tsilenis

On Saturday 27 May, 12:00–14:00
“The virtual representation of memory”, by Ioannis Evdokimidis, Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

A book will be published on the occasion of the exhibition by Miletos publications and with the support of the City of Athens.