The newspaper described the Typography Museum in Chania as a “unique gem of Greece”. “Voice of Athens” of his great dedication, because of two day events which takes place on Friday and Saturday.
In its dedication, the newspaper records “the history of the unique Typography Museum in Greece created by the founder of the newspaper “Haniotika Nea” Yiannis Garedakis and his wife Eleni”
“Creativity is a good thing!” and Yannis Garedakis, the historical founder of the most beloved newspaper in the province of Chania, called “Haniotika Nea”, seems to have a lot of reserves in it. He and his beloved wife, Eleni, have devoted half of their lives to running their newspaper which is expected to be completed in half a century, and the other half to building and operating the Museum of Typography that bears their name, a unique little museum that has been operating for two decades outside the city of Chania.
the John and Eleni Garedakis Museum of Typographylocated in Crete, in Souda Industrial Park, Chania, was officially opened in 2005, and a new wing was added in 2012. It is the only organized Typography Museum in Greece, dedicated to the fine Art of Writing, a art that literally changed the course of history.
The museum is developed in two large wings, three individual rooms, a library, an auditorium, a shop and a cafe, covering a total area of ​​approximately 1,200 sq. m.
What can be seen in First Wing
The History of Typography tour includes cast iron presses from the early 19th century, a wooden printing press based on one invented by the “father” of typography, John Gutenberg, which marked the 15th century birth of Typography in Europe, and many presses from Germany. , Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece and elsewhere.
Typesetting benches, where typists prepare text by letter using relief typographic elements, from the time of Gutenberg to the 20th century, are shown alongside the Linotype, where mechanical typesetting.
Around the walls and the display cases, maps, lithographs, photographs, posters, publications, pens and tubers of the past centuries complete the experience.
What can be seen in Second Wing
The room here is purely industrial, because until 2008 it was located in the old printing press of the newspaper “Haniotika Nea”, which is now printed in the adjacent building, as described in the short video. Also shown are the monotype, large flat printing presses of the 19th century, machines used from time to time by the newspaper “Haniotika Nea”, the traditional stamp shop, etc.
In special showcases, techniques such as wood engraving, copper engraving, lithography, offset, tsigography and silk-screen printing, paper production, as well as the Braille method of writing – a donation to the Lighthouse of the Blind Greece, presented.
Around the perimeter we follow the development of Typography, through the visual view of the graphic designer-typographer Antonis Papantonopoulou.
Of particular importance (and beauty) is the lithographic press Hugo Carmine Wienmade in Vienna about 1900.
The wing also has a complete bookbinding corner, with the necessary workbench, tools, handmade papers, skins, bookbinding press, etc., and related video of the bookbinder in action.
library
The museum library has unique books, magazines, valuable publications in Greek and foreign languages, mainly Typography, press and graphic arts.
A unique exhibition of books from the 19th and 20th centuries, from Greek and foreign publishing houses, state and private, with Cretan themes is also presented. The subject is wide, including the Constitution of the Cretan State, the Cretan Revolution, the Cretan Code, Crete through International Law, methods through politics, history, as well as literature, poetry, travel, etc. .a.
A collection of old typewriters and polygraphs is displayed in the same area.
History of the Bible
The mezzanine of the museum hosts the permanent art exhibition “History of the Bible”, designed by artist-typographer Antonis Papantonopoulos. Through his visual work he recounts the human effort to communicate through the written word and not only.
Photo room
On the mezzanine there is a special space dedicated to photography, with many cameras, unique machines, photo accessories and visual material from the archives of the newspaper “Haniotika Nea”, with photos from end of the 19th century.
Here, among other things, the volume with the first example of converting a photo into an engraving, for newspaper printing, is presented. L’ Illustrationfrom an 1848 newspaper report in Paris.
Room of rare editions
This room connects Typography and related techniques to the final result: the book and any type of printed matter. It includes rare publications from the 16th century onwards, mainly from Venice, Greek and foreign newspapers of the 19th century, maps, lithographs, woodcuts and copper engravings, which connects Typography with the turbulent history of Crete. Also displayed is a handwritten collection of poetry in the Farsi language from the 18th century, the Koran is estimated to be before 1800, international and Cretan publications and newspapers with historical events, seals of the Cretan State, etc. version “Ordinances» by Gregory IXprinted in Lyons, France in the 16th century, gift of Dutch partner and ancient printer Cornelius Senkas well as the 17th century edition by Giovanni Battista Giraldibelieved to be Shakespeare’s inspiration for Othello and In Equal Measure, donated by Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania.
Art books
The report entitled “Myth on the edge of the Labyrinth» Includes 29 art books, works by contemporary artists, based on the artist’s suggestion and initiative Yannis Markantonakis. The picture books were donated by: Vergerakis Lefteris, Sofia Vlazakis, Dialinos Yiannis, Kamenou Viki, Irini Kana, Amalia Karkoulias, Zoi Kollarou, Stella Koukoulakis, Markantonakis P. Giannis, Markantonakis Pantelis, Mavromatakis Stavroula, Michelogiannisu Lambrin Vasivia , Dafni Mylonogianni, Niolis Grigoris, Pagomenos Kostas, Petrakis Manolis, Protopapadakis Vaso, Roussos Vangelis, Skepetzi Chrysoula, Spanakis Kostas, Tsiraki Konstantinos, Charalambidou Eva, Charchalakis Anna, Franzeskakis Antonis, Fotopoulou Evie.
The architect designed a special installation for the Typography Museum Aristomenis Varoudakis and the exhibition is edited by a museologist – art historian Myrto Kontomitakis.
AMPHITHEATER
The Amphitheater of the museum, a warm and bright space of culture and letters, is used for various activities, such as many years of successful educational programs with the annual participation of approximately 7,000 students of all levels, book presentations, theater performances, musicals. events, events, international scientific conferences and more.
There are interactive tours and workshops, where children and adults can print on old printing presses, thus discovering something forgotten but self-evident: the effort and human intelligence behind each printed text.
This year’s Conference – Seminar (24/5/24)
This year, on May 24, 2024, the Museum of Typography is organizing a one-day conference, entitled “Publications and Libraries in Southeast Europe: From the 17th Century to the Present Challenges”in the co-organization of EKPA and Adligat (Serbia) Society of Culture and Book Museum, which will take place at the Provincial Press Institute, in Chania.
The International Poster Competition “Racism and Xenophobia” (25/5/24)
Every year the museum organizes with great success the International Poster Competition, thus connecting its museum collections with contemporary graphic arts. The 1st competition was announced in 2014 and continues with great momentum. The jury each time consists of renowned graphic designers, university professors and artists from Greece and abroad. The 30 projects that received awards and honors are exhibited in the Amphitheater of the Museum for one year, until the next competition. This year’s competition has the theme “Race – Xenophobia” and the award ceremony will be held at the Typography Museum on May 25, 2024.