Eventlist

Monster & Colossus: Letters between Greek writer Costas Taktsis & Australian artist Carl Plate & their families in cosmopolitan post-war Sydney

Presenter: Dr Cassi Plate

Language of Presentation: English | R.M.L.G.*: 0 - No knowledge of Greek required.

Synopsis

Costas Taktsis (Κώστας Ταχτσής), arguably the most important post-war Greek writer, referred to himself as a Sacred Monster. He called his life-long friend, Sydney artist Carl Plate, a committed internationalist and key figure in the post-war Australian modern art movement, the Colossus of Woronora. After Taktsis was banished from Australia, the friendship of these inveterate travellers - the writer and the artist - was kept alive through decades of correspondence.

Dr Cassi Plate will talk about the poet and writer’s experience of Australia during the post-war wave of immigration. For Taktsis, Australia was a place of innocence, a new stage on which to reinvent himself, and the form of the Greek novel. On the contrary, Carl Plate (1909-1977) saw Australia as a prison from which he sought to escape, but a prison that enabled him to keep painting.

Claimed as the first modern Greek novel, The Third Wedding, written largely in Australia, was dedicated to Carl and Jocelyn Plate.

Bio

Dr Cassi Plate is a curator, writer and former ABC broadcaster (Triple J, Radio National). She has taught and researched at UTS, University of Newcastle and University of Western Sydney. Her previous book Restless Spirits, was the pilot for a ‘Thesis to Book’ initiative of the University of Sydney and publisher PanMacmillan. Her latest book Monster & Colossus was published by Australian Scholarly Publishing in 2020.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The event will be simulcasted YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and Twitter Broadcast.

You don't need an account to watch the live broadcast with any of the above services.

However, if you want to participate in the Q&A at the end of the seminar you'll need an account with the equivalent service in order to post your question in the comments / chat.

How to Purchase the Book

Please order at your favourite book retailer or use one of the links below:

Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/monster-colossus-cassi-plate/book/9781925984279.html

Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Monster-Colossus-Cassi-Plate/9781925984279

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Monster-Colossus-Australian-cosmopolitan-post-war/dp/1925984273

Sponsors

We thank Jenny Proimos for the kind donation that make seminars like this possible.

During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice.

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* R.M.L.G.: Recommended Minimum Level of Greek in order to enjoy this Event, on a scale of 0 to 5.