Nikos Engonopoulos
Art Basel Kabinett

This Kabinett project presents a focused exhibition on Nikos Engonopoulos (1907-1985), a leading figure of 20th-century Surrealism. Titled ‘Mythogenesis’, it brings together key works by the artist offering insight into his distinctive fusion of European avant-garde principles with Greek cultural memory. Both painter and poet, Engonopoulos reimagined myth through irony, theatricality, and symbolic ambiguity. His compositions transform historical and classical references into dreamlike, stage-like scenes, challenging fixed narratives of identity and tradition. Spanning more than two decades, the selected works reveal a coherent yet evolving vision, where myth becomes a tool for imaginative reinvention. Internationally recognized during his lifetime through exhibitions including the Venice Biennale and the Bienal de São Paulo, Engonopoulos occupies a singular position within twentieth-century modernism. The presentation highlights his enduring contribution to modernism and his relevance to contemporary discourse.