‘Ikonoclasmata’, a collection of short stories by Greek-Australian author Konstantinos Kalimnios, was launched at Melbourne’s Greek Centre this past Sunday.
Published in Athens, the collection has already received highly positive reviews.
The event was a collaboration between the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, the Greek-Australian Cultural League of Melbourne, and the Association of Greek Writers of Australia.
During the proceedings, Greek Consul General Emmanuel Kakavelakis highlighted the significance of Kalimnios’ literary contributions.
“I have followed his work since I arrived in Australia,” he said, noting that the title of the collection invites reflection: “Is he truly an iconoclast or an iconophile? I look forward to finding out.”
Greek Community President Bill Papastergiadis praised the book’s exploration of diverse locations and historical eras that reflect deeply on the essence of Greek identity today. He emphasised the community’s longstanding support for Kalymnios’ literary and cultural endeavors.
President of the Greek-Australian Cultural League, Cathy Alexopoulos, commended Kalimnios’ writing style, noting his early literary career origins with the league.
Lia Argyropoulos, representing the Association of Greek Writers of Australia, also congratulated the author on both the publication and his ongoing contributions to the Greek-Australian community.
Dr George Vasilakopoulos, Associate Professor of Philosophy at La Trobe University, delivered a analysis of ‘Ikonoclasmata’, giving his interpretation of Kalymnios’ language use and narrative technique. He examined the theoretical underpinnings of the title, relating it to Platonic philosophy and the author’s views on identity and community. Vasilakopoulos described the collection as both “dark” and “existential,” portraying protagonists in constant states of crisis.
Despite their resistance to adverse circumstances, these characters often face self-doubt or deconstruction—mirroring the narrator’s own complex relationship with the text.
Vasilakopoulos characterised this relationship as one of “fear and awe,” asserting that Kalymnios’ intimate connection to the Greek language reveals his pursuit of “absolute truth,” asserting that he writes “not just in Greek, but within the spirit of Greek,” aligning this with the values of democracy and intellectual freedom, and underscoring the revolutionary tone of his prose.
The event concluded with Kalimnios reading excerpts from the collection, offering listeners a taste of his evocative storytelling.
