A Portrait

“He is not an easy going person, but he is easily liked. He is sixty-one years old, he has conjoined black eyebrows, a sly look, a shy but disarming smile, which photographs misinterpret ”(from an essay about Costakis by British journalist and art expert Bruce Chatwin). In the hall of the Tretyakov Gallery dedicated to George Costakis, the central place is occupied by his portrait by Otari Kandaurov. It was donated to the museum by Aliki Kostaki. In this portrait, the main Costakis features are emphasised: the proud look of a black-haired Greek, large horn-rimmed glasses, a smoking pipe and behind him - an avant-garde abstraction. A kind of futuristic icon.

Five years later, another portrait of Costakis was created, but of the exact opposite nature: artist Oleg Tselkov presented an image of a lost, unhappy man with a nail and a rope hanging over him - an obvious allusion to the hopelessness of the last months of his life before the emigration.

The appearance and character of Costakis is a constant subject of controversy and discussion. It was incredibly difficult to capture his true face. Anatoly Zverev created one of the most impressive series of images of Costakis. Zverev's ability to instantly capture his hero’s state was in harmony with the artistry and liveliness of George himself.