about Tasos’s handicraft art 1

Tassos Vardopoulos’ work is included in the research carried out by Mr. Tadahisha Tahashi, research member of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan which is subdized by the Imperial House and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under the general topic “Transformation of the Craftsmen in Balkans”.

…In Athens I visited the workshop of a wooden stair constructor (Tassos J. Vardopoulos) and saw his tools. In Japan there is no a particular craftsman for stairs (usually it is constructed by a master carpenter accοrdιng to the needs). Here, the characteristic is that the spiral stair is made by wood. In the past, there were many stair carpenters, however today, there is only this one left. We may see spiral stairs in buildings in the city but the material havs been replaced by metal. Spiral stairs either from wood or metal can be found in various areas as a building;s interior design. This trend has its origin in Europe.

Takahashi Tadahisa

Report on the changes of craftsmen in Bakans (2006) within the frame of research carried out on behalf of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan, subsidized by the Imperial House and the Japan Society for the promotion of Sciences cinnected with the work of Tassos Vardopoulos.

Η εργασία του Τάσου Βαρδόπουλου συμπεριλαμβάνεται στην έρευνα που εκπονείται από τον κ. Tadahisha Tahashi, ερευνητικού μέλους του “Middle Eastern Culture Center” in Japan, το οποίο επιδοτείται από τον Αυτοκρατορικό Οίκο της Ιαπωνίας και το “Japan Society for the Promotion of Science” με γενικό θέμα: “Transformation of the Craftsmen in Balkans”.

…Στην Αθήνα επισκέφτηκα το εργαστήριο ενός ξυλουργού σκάλας (του Τάσου Ι. Βαρδόπουλου) και είδα τα εργαλεία του. Στην Ιαπωνία δεν υπάρχει ειδικός ξυλουργός σκάλας (συνήθως μάστορας οικοδομής την κατασκευάζει ανάλογα με την ανάγκη). Εδώ το χαρακτηριστικό είναι ότι η γυριστή σκάλα κατασκευάζεται από ξύλο. Κάποτε υπήρχαν πολλοί ξυλουργοί σκάλας αλλά σήμερα έμεινε μόνο αυτό το εργαστήριο. Μπορούμε να δούμε γυριστές σκάλες σε κτήρια μέσα στην πόλη, όμως το υλικό έχει αντικαταστεί από μέταλλο. Η γυριστή σκάλα από ξύλο ή μέταλλο βρίσκεται σε διάφορες περιοχές ως εσωτερική διακόσμηση κτηρίου. Αυτή η τάση έχει έλθει από την Ευρώπη.

Takahashi Tadahisa

Aναφορά με θέμα τις μεταβολές των τεχνιτών στα Βαλκάνια (2006) στα πλαίσια της έρευνας που έγινε για λογαριασμό του Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan με επιδότηση του Αυτοκρατορικού Οίκου και του Japan Society for the promotion of Sciences, η οποία σχετίζεται με τις κατασκευές του Τάσου Βαρδόπουλου.

THEODOSIS TASSIOS

NEOKLIS SARRIS

NIKOS ZIAS

STEFANOS VASDEKIS

TASOS ZEPPOS

GIANNIS PAPAIOANNOU

MICHAEL CHANDRIS

ALEXANDROS KALLIGAS

Alekos Fassianos

GIANNIS GOURZIS

KALLIGAS DIMITRIS

NINI FILINI – KORONAIOU

TAKIS MAUROTAS

Dear Tasos,

beautiful work you do !!

from cloudy Rome !

Domenico. Minchilli Architect

Your work is impressive.

I will keep your reference.

Best wishes

John Tackett Architect

Dear Tasos,
In the careful hands of Athenian Tasos Vardopoulos, the craft of the stairmaker is elevated to a sculptural art form. His ability to make a staircase flow like a waterfall, twist like a serpent, or spread into a room like the train of a wedding dress is legendary among the top flite of European architects. To them, his exceptional skills provide a whole extra palette of sculptural forms with which they can express their vision for a space. Each of his architectural confections is completely unique, tailored to enhance the space and the building.

Who would have thought that 35 years later I would be sitting here writing for you about the most celebrated stairmaker in Europe.

Matthew Platt
Managing Director

Hi Tasos

I am amazed at the quality craftsmanship and of the good design. Your pieces …parts are very sculptural in themselves.
. I will keep your work always in mind.
Best regards

David Sywalski

Tasos,

Your work is beautiful.

I think teaching your craft is a great idea.  I’m sure there are schools in Europe and the US that would be happy to have you teach classes.

All of the work is with chisels?

Best wishes,

Thomas Lie-Nielsen.

Dear Mr Vardopoulos,

Your work is very impressive.
Kind regards,
Brian Gandy

Hello Tasos,

It was a pleasure to hear from you and to view your web site.  I have long admired “old world” craftsmanship so I
have a very high regard for your skills.

.
Your skills are very unique and deserve
a very specialized clientele.

I wish you good fortune… you deserve it!

From snowy upstate New York…

Best regards,

Bob

Robert Longhurst Studio

Making handmade wooden staircases and handrails  is very specialized area of woodworking, one you obviously have mastered.   I’m really impressed with  your work
Jim Harrold

Editor-in-Chief Woodcraft Magazine

Γεια σας και Συγχαρητηρια!!
μας κανετε περηφανους ολους εμας που εχουμε συνεργαστει μαζι σας,
συνεχιστε την υπεροχη δουλεια σας,
με εκτιμηση,
Βαξεβανακης Δημητρης αρχιτεκτων

Τάσσο, συγχαρητήρια!
Σου αξίζει κάθε προβολή και διάκριση.
απόλαυσα την εξαιρετική παρουσίαση. Σου εύχομαι καλή δύναμη στην προσπάθεια που κάνεις να γνωστοποιήσεις τη δουλειά σου και είμαι σίγουρος, πως όλα θα πάνε όπως επιθυμείς.

Αντρέας Κοντελης Ζωγράφος

Αγαπητέ Τασο,

συγχαρητήρια πραγματικά. Φαίνεται πως αγαπάς την δουλειά σου και την θαυμάζης. Μπράβο,  σου αξίζει !!

Μακάρι να είχε η χώρα μας τετοιους …. να αγαπούν ότι δουλευουν και δημιουργούν. Μας λειπουν πολλοί…

Αντώνης Χατζηαντωνίου

Great work, very interesting and organic. I know where to come if I need a staircase.

Greetings Tasos,

Tasos,

Your work looks excellent. Keep up the good work.

Marc Adams
Hello Tasos,

I have made a few handrails in the past and I know what exacting and very special work it is. I  looked at your website and – truly – there are not many craftsmen who have such a high skill and can create beautiful shapes and prefect forms so consistently – congratulations!
I hope one day you try some other sculpture – perhaps fish?!

Chris Pye: Woodcarver

Mr. Vardopoulos,

You are a very accomplished artist.  I enjoyed seeing your workmanship, It really is beautiful art; great wood, incredible glue-ups!  I can see that your work is complex as well as beautiful.

Sincerely,

–Paige  Bradley

Hi Tasos,
Your work is great! And I like very much your web site.

,
Jean-Pierre Morin  Sculptor

Dear Tasos,

You do wonderful work

. I wish we could display it on our sculpture grounds, but every work must be able to take violent winter storms and ultraviolet rays.

Gilbert Boro

Dear Tasos,

I am interested in your work and hope some day with my husband Patrick to visit your wonderful country.

Regards,

Ellen.Pulleyblank.Coffey

Tasos,

I’d say that you are the master when it comes to stairmaking, and I wouldn’t pretend to be qualified to render an opinion on your work. I am curious though…are you training someone to carry your skills into the future?

Peter Korn, Executive Director Center for Furniture Craftsmanship

Tasos,

I’m  a craft that does not often have the need for the skills you have. I could not begin to do your work; it’s amazing.

AlexP

these staircases are truly works of art. Tassos speaks to us through the timber.

David Maiden

Glenn