Nikos Papadopoulos on Vandalism at the National Gallery: ‘I Promised the Virgin Mary to Remove the Works’

In response to the vandalism of artworks at the National Gallery, member of parliament Nikos Papadopoulos explained that he could not tolerate what he described as ‘blasphemous’ works being exhibited in Greece’s premier art institution. Speaking to journalist Giorgos Liangas, Papadopoulos revealed that he had made a vow to the Virgin Mary to do everything in his power to remove these works from the gallery. He emphasized that he tried every possible approach, including attempting to meet with the director, but was reportedly met with unavailability from staff. Papadopoulos recounted how he visited the exhibition with a friend and lost his composure upon seeing school groups touring the exhibit. “I saw so many schools visiting and thought, ‘What a disaster,’” he said. He highlighted that young children were being shown what he called ‘the devil’s excesses,’ prompting him to warn two female attendants about his impending actions. He clarified that his intention was not initially to vandalize the works but rather to confront the director, who eventually appeared and mocked him. Papadopoulos also stated that certain images in the National Gallery were three times more inappropriate than those found in unsuitable films.