Wassili Lepanto-Exhibition "Landscapes of the Soul"
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Koumantareios Gallery of Sparta – Annex of the National Gallery presents the exhibition "Landscapes of the Soul" by Wassili Lepanto, dedicated to the historical and cultural landscape, which in the artist's work is inseparably connected with the natural environment. Lepanto interprets the landscape as an inner revelation and a means of elevating the human spirit.
The exhibition features ten paintings depicting historic landscapes of Greece, drawn from the collections of the National Gallery of Greece and the Benaki Museum. Most of the works were donated by the artist to these two institutions. The landscapes include Mystras, Monemvasia, Akronafplia, Argos, Kythera, Mount Athos, and Olympos on the island of Karpathos, all seen through Lepanto's distinctive artistic vision.
Wassili Lepanto (Dr Vassilis Loukopoulos) was born in Perdikovrysi, Mountainous Nafpaktia, in 1940 and grew up in Athens. He later moved to Germany, where he studied German Philology, History, and Philosophy, completing his doctoral dissertation on a scholarship at the University of Mannheim. He passed away in Heidelberg in 2018—a city often referred to as the "Athens of the North," which became his second homeland.
In the late 1970s, at a mature stage of his life, Lepanto left his academic career to devote himself entirely to painting. In 1983, he published the manifesto "Art for Humanity, or an Ecological Art," a concise expression of his philosophy of art and life.
Landscape painting became the central focus of his artistic practice. His works present nature as humanity's ally, advocating for ecological balance and harmonious coexistence between people and the environment. Beyond his artistic achievements, Lepanto was also an active citizen and served as a member of the Heidelberg City Council, where he worked passionately for the protection of the natural and historic environment.
Director General of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum / Artistic Programme: Syrago Tsiara
Exhibition Curator: Monika Diamanti, Head of the Sparta Annex
Artist: Wassili Lepanto (Vassilis Loukopoulos)
Opening: Wednesday, July 29th, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.