An issue of exchanging Kostas Varotsos’ 12-metre tall glass sculpture of Dromeas (Runner) that stands outside the Athens Hilton with that of Alexander the Great from North Macedonia caused controversy in Greece.
The question was raised when Culture Minister Myrsini Zorba reportedly asked sculptor Panagiotis Varotsos how he would feel about the prospect of such an exchange. The artist categorically opposed the idea, however the Ministry of Culture denied that such a proposal had ever been put to him.
A public row has now broken out regarding the alleged proposal
“There has been no such proposal,” Zorba told the state-run Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Tuesday.
“Possible swaps of monuments or changes to signposts are the jurisdiction of other ministries.”
Varotsos said the idea had been pitched to him numerous times during a meeting he had with Ms Zorba on Friday and he was insulted by her denial.
He added that he still has intellectual rights to the sculpture that belongs to the City of Athens and is thankful to be alive to protect his sculpture.
North Macedonia’s state news agency, MIA, has also reported on the issue, denying reports circulating in the Greek press concerning the exchange of the statues as a symbolic sign to seal the Prespes Agreement.