The Museum
The differences from other Open Air Museums and outdoor sculpture galleries around the world are large and substantial. Here, space and time, are deeply philosophical concepts with their foundations based in Ancient Greek Philosophy. They emerge as dominant constituent elements of a unique visual proposal. Most of the Contemporary Art works in the edge of time belong to Nature itself, which is treated here as an Artist.
"Art is truly hidden in nature; whoever can extract it, he has it" - Albrecht Dürer
"Our vision is to create a unique visual reference point in the world for Contemporary Art, as it comes to us through the nod of Aenaus."
Uniqueness
Another element that makes YMST a unique visual site is that here the visitor is invited to discover for himself what is hidden "beyond the obvious". It is essentially "training" in the recognition of hidden anthropomorphisms and other forms, clearly visible in some cases. Similarly, there are other sculptures of Nature, some of which are openly displayed, such as e.g. at the entrance to the YMST, however most are scattered, easily distinguishable for observant visitors.
The logic of the "covered" Nature was also adopted in the technical constructions, walkways, terraces, independent installations, where there are scattered Pelasgian ideograms, selective references to numbers and letters, through a visual reminder of all of them.
Another innovative element is that the same works constantly take on new form and content, depending on the weather conditions: Natural weather phenomena such as fog, snow, cloudiness, rain, moonlight, here act as an artistic factor, giving the same works different content each time.
Timeline of the Museum creation
Idea
Initially an attempt was made (P. Nanos) to create a Theme Park of Historical Memorial of Agrafa. Two years later, following an invitation, the international visual artist Pantelis Sambaliotis(1954 – 2011), partner of the National Gallery of Berlin, visited the site and referred to the necessity of creating an Outdoor Museum of Contemporary Art, unique in the country, considering that the Historical Memory Parks are not they have an international perspective.
The first study was drawn up (Panagiotis Nanos – Pantelis Sambaliotis), submitted to the Ministry of Culture, but without result.
A similar proposal was submitted by the Society of Contemporary Cultural Development, (a cultural – non-profit organization) to the Municipality of Limni Plastira, but it was not accepted.
Approval
The proposal was submitted to the “Greece ’21” Committee and was approved as one of the emblematic projects for the celebration of the 200 years since the Revolution of 1821. By the decision of the mayor, the drafting of the study was entrusted to his special partner, which was approved by the Forestry Directorate on 10/03/2021.
On 12/03/2021 a funding request for the proposal was submitted to the “Antonis Tritsis” program and on 14/05/2021 the proposal was included with a budget of 240,000 euros. On 09/05/2021, the Municipality of Limni Plastira officially raises the pre-revolutionary flag of Agrafa, 200 years since the raising of the same symbol in Kerasovo, Evrytania (10/05/1821) by the leader of the revolutionaries K. Veli. With the placement of the first historical exhibit at the YMST, the creation of the YMST symbolically begins. June 2021, the president of the “Greece 21” Committee, Mrs. G. Angelopoulou, visited the area and was informed by the mayor, Mr. Panagiotis Nano, about the YMST, which was placed under the auspices of the “Greece 21” Committee. With the 286/19.10.2021 decision of the Economic Commission (OE) the conditions for approval of an investment loan were accepted and with the 316/2021 (23/11/2021) decision of the OE. the drafting of the terms of the declaration was approved. A public tender followed, the project was assigned to engineer Mrs. Evangelia Antonoula.
Most of the work has been completed and in the spring of 2023, the work of the first phase of the space will be delivered complete. On 09/12/2022, the Special Town Planning Plans of the Municipality of Limni Plastira, (DE Plastira – TK Morphobouni) were submitted to the Ministry of Interior, which provides for the development of the YMST as a land use.
20/08/2023 an event of honor and memory took place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the burning of the villages of the Municipality of Limni Plastira by the Italian and German invaders in 1943. The artistic development of YMST begins with the creation and placement of two important sculptures: the first work by a Greek artist is titled “Universe” and is by the late Yiannis Troukis, which was donated by his family. The other work entitled, “Memory” is by the German sculptor Rainer Fest. Symbolic movement, a sample of approach to History through the beginning of artistic development of YMST and is dedicated to the burning of the villages of Lake Plastira by Italian and German invaders in 1943. The project was created on site and was done at the invitation of the Mayor and the project is sponsored by the company “Geranolimeniki SA”
Opening
With the no. 102/12.01.2024 decision of the Regional Governor of Thessaly joined the Leader+ program, a €255,000 budget project, which finances the B’ infrastructure phase, according to a study made by Mrs. Thei Kandila, special associate of the mayor of Limni Plastira. The project was auctioned in June 2024. On 15/4/2024 the YMST XHA opened its doors to the public and until 15/6/2024 the YMST – XHA welcomed the first organized group of students from the 10th Primary School of Karditsa, followed by other organized visitors. On 6/22/2024, the curtain of the YMST event space opened, with a Jazz concert, with high-level artists, an event which was part of the promotion and promotion of YMST. The 1st International Sculpture Symposium is planned for September 2024 by the Municipality of Limni Plastira.
Visits
Priority for children of all school levels, with an emphasis on environmental excursions and the European ERASMUS Program. Students and postgraduates from Greece and abroad, as part of Summer Academies, international sculpture symposia, workshops. National and international audience of all ages with visual and educational interests, etc. On 15/4/2024 YMST XHA opened its doors to the public and until 15/6/2024 YMST - XHA welcomed the first organized group of students from the 10th Primary School of Karditsa. A number of clubs and bodies followed, as well as many visits from individual visitors. Entrance is free and the YMST is open all days and hours without restriction. The area is monitored by security cameras.
