Santa baby

It is the most wonderful time of the year: cities wear their festive attire to celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year, a transition that brings joy to most people and inspiration to artists. Andrea Dalla Val depicts in the playful yet intriguing Waiting for Santa Claus! (2012) the moment that all children wait for every Christmas: the moment that Santa Claus enters the house through the roof to deliver their presents. An amalgam of the pagan god Odin and the Christian Saint Nicholas, a figure that the Dutch call Sinterklaas, the Scandinavians Yule and the English Father Christmas, the image of Santa Claus was established in the late 19th century, while the specific list of tasks executed by Santa was only popularized in the mid-20th century by the 1934 song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”.

Santa in #Syria (2012) of Khalid Albaih is a sarcastic reminder though that Christmas is not so merry in many corners of the world. In a simple manner the artist indicates that some people cannot enjoy simple things that are taken for granted by others. Nevertheless, the fairytale-like picture of Santa and Childrenby Anne Yvonne Gilbert visualizes the hope that there is or there will be someone to take care of all the children in the world. As idealistic as it may sound, such images give inspiration every festive season to imagine the world as it should be and as it could be next year.

The Expert's View series features articles examining the art exhibited on USEUM. Annita Apostolaki is an art professional with an MA from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art and a BA in Archaeology & History of Art. Annita is now Curatorial Assistant at the Athens Biennale.