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ILIOPOULOU: First of all, Elytis sought for a new visage for poetry. He gives new meaning to the act of poetry itself. He takes the concept of poetry away from that of personal confession, from the description of life, from simple observation. He refers to archetypes, attempts to re-combine the elements of the world through language, giving a dynamic meaning to the poetic universe. And of course, by referring to a similar position for the transforming power of poetic thought through the universe of senses and awareness of the neglected opportunities of the country, Elytis highlights an image of Greece different from the worshipping of antiquity.
He experienced significant historical moments and manages to highlight not the topical but the enduring meaning of things. For him, Greece is a powerful aesthetic phenomenon, a dominant force, a language power, a moral value. Although subjected to blows from surrounding reality, poetry is bound to show its true value and the way towards the fulfillment of virtue.

QUESTION: The linguistic diversity and ability of Elytis to give words a new charge of meaning are the starting point for subsequent poetic generations. I read somewhere that his poetry was written with the use of about 8000 words, while that of Cavafy, for example, used 3500 words. How this capability for coining new words contributes to the different quality of his poems?

ILIOPOULOU: We would say somewhat aphoristically that poetry is written through the language, we would say that it is language itself. Elytis is well aware of this. It seems that he is not only amazingly enjoying this flexible tool the Greek language provided him, but is experimenting with inventive forms of the language, thus offering novel manifestations of life itself. He thinks, acts, and rejects by the originality of his compositions.

QUESTION: The programme of the celebrations marking the centenary of the poet’s birth was recently presented at the Megaro Mousikis (the Athens Concert Hall). The numerous events - the International Congress on "The 20^th century in the poetry of Elytis. Elytis's poetry in the 21^st century", the poetry readings on the occasion of World Poetry, traditionally celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox – 21 March, the activation of the web-pages www.odysseaselytis.gr and www.elytis.gr, the concert at the Irodion with music by Y. Kouropos based on the poem Monogram – includes an exhibition of the poet’s visual works, to be opened at the Theoharakis Foundation. Which of his works will we see there?

ILIOPOULOU: It's not about just an exhibit of visual works, but about presenting the universe of Odysseas Elytis. Our goal is to show the most important stages of his life and work - manuscripts, translations, fine works of other artists (Tsarouhis, Moralis), of foreign artists whose paths have crossed with the Elytis’ world and creativity. The exhibit will also present works by contemporary artists inspired by Elytis’ poetry.

QUESTION: Тhe poet’s ideology will be presented in colours, words, music, publications. In 1960, Elytis was awarded the State Prize for poetry for Worthy It Is (Άξιον εστί), and in 1961 began his collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis, who set some of his poems to music and initiated the widespread promotion of his verse as song lyrics. The fine works of Elytis complement his poems through colour and image. Would you agree that Elytis’ poetry by itself is a visual challenge to the readers?

ILIOPOULOU: The challenge of the visual arts you refer to does not come from his amateur form of pictorial expression but through the dimension of his poetic which creates images. What he writes has its own visual equivalent. Even the most intellectual mental scheme has its own line in the visible world. Let us not forget that Elytis stimulates our senses and naturally achieves his expression through the acoustic rhythmic equivalent of a verbal concept.

QUESTION: The poet begins his Nobel Prize speech in Stockholm in 1979 by saying: “Allow me to talk in the name of lucidity and transparency." One has the feeling that by the fulfillment of his last wish – a small church to be built overlooking the Aegean Sea – the spirit of the poet meets with eternal transparency –  that of the boundless blue of the sea. The church Παναγία Παντοχαρά, for the building of which you have significantly contributed, will be consecrated on the island of Sikinos this summer. Tell us more about this event.

ILIOPOULOU: This church is Elytis’ dedication to the Virgin in exchange for his life and work. His will was the church to be built on this island which he had never visited, because he was convinced that it has preserved its authenticity more than any other Greek island. I have made his will come true. I got up to its fulfillment. Construction works will finish this year and I hope the first liturgy will be celebrated there this summer or autumn.