painter / visual artist

The wall installation presented in my thesis at the School of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, titled 'CAUTION colors,' is composed of a series of studies-works that I combined into a single piece. In these works, I explored the intensity of primary and secondary colors.

I sought to explore the intensity of these colors by placing a primary or secondary color in the center of the painting surface, gradually blending it with other primary or complementary colors toward the edges. The juxtaposition of the side colors, resulting from this blending, aimed to highlight the central color and enhance its identity.

The dominant color names each piece. The central color's singularity is disrupted by lines and small geometric shapes in bold, contrasting colors, acting as 'slits' or 'holes' to create movement and rhythm.

Although we live in the era of technological reproducibility and new media, I aim to achieve the 'here and now' of the artwork using traditional materials, acrylics on canvas, following Benjamin's concept of 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.' I also seek to understand the notion of 'aura,' which Benjamin describes as 'the unique experience of a distance, however close it may be.'

As Rothko said, if there is depth in his work, it lies in the emotion. I am interested in evoking emotion, as it tends to be undervalued or overlooked in contemporary rationalistic society.

Each painting-color could be seen as an entity that is enhanced by the surrounding colors. Its relationship with other colors helps it find its identity. Together, they form a color ensemble, a community. They are connected, interact, yet maintain their uniqueness.

Ultimately, the challenge of evoking emotion or contemplation through the wandering gaze is an ongoing area of research.