(Yicai Global) July 7 -- A special exhibition of Greek artworks from ancient times until today is on show at the Shanghai Museum until Oct. 9 to mark the 50^th anniversary of China-Greek diplomatic relations.

“Thalassa: The Sea in Greek Art From Antiquity Until Today” consists of more than 30 works of art centered around Thalassa, Greek goddess of the sea and the embodiment of the ocean in which the Mediterranean country’s many islands sit.

It is the Shanghai Museum’s first international exhibition since it reopened on July 1. The museum will also hold exhibitions on three ancient Chinese dynasties, the Xia, Shang and Zhou, at the end of the month that will compare civilizations which originated from rivers with those from the seas.

A Youth Riding a Dolphin is one of the five ancient relics on display in the section ‘Seas and Oceans in Ancient Greek Art.’ The bronze statue is housed at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Originally 12 cultural relics would have been brought to Shanghai, but the number had to be scaled down due to the impact of the recent Covid-19 outbreak.

A glazed ceramic container called the Mermaid made by the Greek artist Panos Valsamakis is one of 34 pieces of contemporary Greek art displayed in the second section, entitled “Seas and Oceans in Contemporary Greek Art.”

The oil painting In the Port of Piraeus by Greek painter Stratis Axiotis shows daily life in a Greek port in the early 20^th century. This section of the exhibition is entitled “Riding on the Tide.”

A ceramic sculpture created by a Giorgos Tserionis bears the name Retreat is Impossible in the Face of a Blocked-Off Road. It takes pride of place in the “Into the Deepsea” section, which holds artworks that depict the open sea, unadorned coastlines as well as the tranquil seabed.

Editors: Shi Yi, Kim Taylor