Takis

Panayiotis Vassilakis, known as Takis (1925–2019), was a seminal Greek artist and a pioneer of kinetic art. Self-taught, he merged art with science, utilizing natural phenomena such as magnetism, motion, and light to create sculptures that reveal the universe’s invisible forces. Born in Athens, he began sculpting in 1946, drawing inspiration from archaic Greek art and artists like Picasso and Giacometti. In 1954, he moved to Paris, where he developed notable series like “Signals,” “Telemagnetic Sculptures,” and “Musical Sculptures.” In 1993, he established the Centre for the Arts and Sciences at Gerovouno, Attica. His works are featured in major museums worldwide, including the Centre Pompidou, MoMA, and Tate Modern.