Genius of a Collector

The expression “a Genius of a Collector” may seem unexpected and even self-contradicting. It's one thing to be a brilliant artist or writer, that is, a person who creates something, whereas a collector merely uses the artist’s works: he collects ready-made artefacts.

The entire history of the twentieth century art proves that this is a misconception. A collector is much more than a possessor. The collector George Costakis combined several roles at once: that of a historian, a curator, a visionary, a promoter, an educator … He was a full-fledged creator, thanks to whom several world class museums are flourishing today. He was an innovator: his unique gift of discovering new phenomena in art went against the generally accepted tastes and standards.

George Costakis is often compared to the great Russian collectors Pavel Tretyakov, Sergei Shchukin or Savva Morozov. This comparison is justified. But with two important reservations: unlike the pre-revolutionary patrons of the arts, Costakis did not have a million dollar fortune, his collection was formed in an atmosphere of rejection and even condemnation from the state. At any moment, his activities could be regarded as anti-Soviet. But this is the power of genius - he acts outside the box: that of framework and dogma. In other words, the Costakis Collector was, definitely, a genius.