Statue of Constantine Cavafy erected in Athens

Constantine Cavafy was born on 29 April 1863 and passed away on 29 April 1933.

The sculpture of C. P. Cavafy, a donation from the Onassis Foundation to the Municipality of Athens, aims to integrate the poet organically into the urban fabric, not as a distant monument but as a living presence within the daily life of the city. The sculptor’s proposal portrays Cavafy seated. It is a life-size bronze sculpture with a high-durability patina suitable for outdoor display, allowing visitors to sit beside the poet. The installation is illuminated by lighting designer Eleftheria Deko, in a lighting study that maintains a continuous dialogue with its surroundings.

Cavafy’s figure draws inspiration from a photograph in the Cavafy archive depicting him seated on a chaise longue in his apartment, in Alexandria, around 1930. Elements such as his glasses were incorporated using modern 3D scanning and printing technologies, based on the authentic artefacts.