The Magic of Venice in an illustrious painter’s studio
The author with the painter Mina Kordalis to her right
On a beautiful spring afternoon, Mina Kordalis invited her friend, Barbara Athanassiadis, to her atelier to present — through images and words—her book “My Venice”, creating an inspired dialogue between painting and prose.
Within that enchanting space, we were able to trace Mina Kordalis’ artistic evolution through works distinguished by originality and dynamic expression. She had recently been invited to exhibit at Palazzo Franchetti on the Grand Canal, a palace Barbara Athanassiadis had often admired from the Accademia Bridge during her walks in Venice. With this shared connection in mind, Barbara began to captivate us, offering the chance to journey with her into the magic of the lagoon city.
The colours and forms of the paintings delighted the eye, while Barbara instinctively modulated her voice to accompany each image, enthralling us with her natural theatrical flair and the unexpected revelation of a delicacy preserved like a precious treasure. Her passion, eloquence and talent, together with the intimate atmosphere, transported us to another realm. It was, quite simply, a beautiful experience.
The Piazzetta, an elegant extension of Piazza San Marco, opens onto the Venetian lagoon.
Barbara possesses a rare depth and maturity, together with an innate desire to broaden her horizons. Her kindness, courtesy, learning and love of both writing and travel have enabled her to reveal the hidden jewels of Venice with refined artistry. Having observed them with privileged insight, she conveyed them to us with irresistible charm. The visual and auditory impressions were so compelling that we found ourselves hanging on her every word, while I, for my part, drew inspiration from the cadence of her voice, striving always for precision and authenticity.
Reading the book “My Venice”, I came to feel that its author deserves a distinguished place in contemporary European travel literature. The fluidity of her style and the thoughtful way in which she approaches themes that ultimately uplift mind and spirit make the work deeply rewarding. The reader is drawn into its pages as though into a gentle embrace. Admirers of fine writing and cultivated travel will surely welcome it with enthusiasm. Seriousness of purpose, attention to detail, originality, aesthetic sensitivity and profound emotional intelligence — these qualities converge in a book that becomes, in itself, a work of art.
The author on the Accademia Bridge, Venice
Perhaps I was influenced by the atmosphere, or by the emotion of the encounter — perhaps even by the very air we seemed to share, charged with Barbara’s words. Whatever the reason, we all left in awed silence, striving to preserve the uniqueness of those moments even as they slipped into memory. For Art, in all its forms, offers us a model of harmony and reveals the deeper rhythm of life itself.
For those who follow its path, the book My Venice offers discoveries that linger beyond the final page.
Τhanassis Spiliopoulos, Writer, Painter
Professor of Journalism, University of Athens