Dakis Joannou

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Dakis Joannou ( Greek Δάκης Ιωάννου , * 1939 in Nicosia , Cyprus ) is a Cypriot industrialist and entrepreneur who lives in Athens. He was best known as an art collector and has one of the most important collections of contemporary art in the world.

Life

Ioannou graduated from Athens College and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in civil engineering . He also holds a Masters from Columbia University and a PhD in Architecture from the University of Rome . He then joined the construction company J&P , which his father founded together with George Paraskevaides. Dakis Joannou drove the expansion of the previously local company into a regional construction group.

Joannou is President of the International Council of Directors of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation , a member of the Asset Management of the New Museum of Contemporary Art , New York and a member of the International Council of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles , and the Tate Gallery .

Art collection

Ioannou is considered to be the most important patron of the work of Jeff Koons , whose largest collection he now owns. He bought the first Koons painting in 1985 for $ 2,700. The collection also includes works by: Vanessa Beecroft , Michael Bevilacqua, Ashley Bickerton, Cai Guo-Qiang , Maurizio Cattelan , Verne Dawson, Matt Greene , Ralf Ziervogel , Mike Kelley , Joseph Kosuth , Liza Lou, Miltos Manetas , Allan McCollum, Takashi Murakami , Ningura Napurrula, Shirin Neshat , Cady Noland , Chris Ofili , Gabriel Orozco , Yinka Shonibare , Shahzia Sikander, Kara Walker , Nari Ward and Christopher Wool .

Ioannou often makes his works available to museums free of charge and promotes young artists and artists. a. by buying their works. Critics see both activities as an influence on the independent art business, as well as in his most recent activity as a lender of an exhibition at the New Museum of Contemporary Art . Joannou leaves the selection to Jeff Koons, who is also the curator. But Ioannou is also a financier of the museum. In addition, it is considered unlikely that he will sell parts of his collection. Nevertheless, his engagement is seen as the appropriation of a public museum.

Dakis Joannou founded the DESTE (Greek for: looks) art foundation , which is based in Nea Ionia near Athens .

Exhibitions (selection)

  • Traum & Trauma - Works from the Dakis Joannou Collection , MUMOK Vienna (June 29 to October 4, 2007)
  • Skin Fruit: Selections from the Dakis Joannou Collection

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from March 8, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.art-magazin.de
  2. ↑ http://www.artnet.de/magazin/features/haun/haun08-05-05.asp
  3. ↑ http://www.monopol-magazin.com/magazine/2010/01/interpol-coup-oder-kartell

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Joannou, Dakis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ioannou, Dakis; Ιωάννου, Δάκης (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Cypriot industrialist, entrepreneur, art collector
DATE OF BIRTH 1939
PLACE OF BIRTH Nicosia , Cyprus