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ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
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in Corfu where his workshop is now located, in the for photography. I was lucky enough to discover his
village of Temploni. Last summer we organized a joint film negatives and I am slowly displaying them and
exhibition at the Corfu Art Gallery and showcased some trying to render them with large sized paintings. At the
of the works that we have created together. I haven’t same time, I am working on a number of large murals
devoted myself to sculpture as much as to painting. and works on demand. Also my dream is to travel to
It's hard work, it requires physical strength and it's Africa to do murals there, I hope to make it there soon.
pretty dirty work. I can't stand dust, I prefer paints. Is there a certain piece of work that you father
But I have definitely been influenced by my father's created that you especially admire? Where in the
sculptures as well as his paintings, which he did when city would you be able to see it up close?
he was young, works that he created in the 70s in Paris My father has created many works that are displayed
which have never been exhibited in Greece. They had in public spaces, mainly monuments. He is one of
a great influence on my style and maybe in the future the pioneers of constructivism and combined it with
we will show them somewhere together. realistic elements to create monumental sculptures.
What creative mediums are you currently focusing He has created works that are on display in squares
on and working with? almost all over the country. Apart from the National
In recent years I have focused on painting, drawing Glyptotheque however, none of his works are on
inspiration for the themes of my works from photographs display in the center of Athens in a public space. In
that my grandfather took. My grandfather was René 1987, he created a large sculpture that had movement
Boisseau, the director of the Pasteur Institute in Athens and created sounds. It was installed in Santarosa Square
between 1936 and 1946 during the difficult years of and was quite innovative for its time. Kostas Varotsos'
the occupation in Greece. He fought for vaccinations famous Dromeas (The Runner) which was erected at
against diphtheria and contributed to the complete around the same time proved to be much more popular
eradication of diphtheria in Greece. During World War than my father's sculpture which was probably stolen
II, the institute prepared large quantities of tetanus for its metal a few days after it was installed. There
and antityphoid vaccines for the needs of the Greek is also a youtube video called Metallica by director
army. In 1940 he participated in the committee which Takis Bardakos that documents the creation of this
Which city do you admire for the way in which "EVERY TIME I LEAVE What is Athens’ artistic identity? Has it evolved examined the applications for scholarships offered by sculpture. At some point I also appear with a pacifier
it showcases contemporary art? in recent years? the French state to Greek citizens to study in France, in my mouth wandering next to the sculpture. It would
I work quite a lot in Vienna as I have a solid relationship GREECE, I MISS THE SEA The biggest artistic movement in the last twenty in other words Octave Merlier’s famous 'Mataroa' be wonderful if this sculpture still existed somewhere
with the AG18 Gallery there. Vienna is like Paris, but years in Athens is street art. Dozens of internationally initiative. At the same time, however, he had a passion in the city. 
cleaner and more organized – perhaps even more AND AS BENIGN AS IT acclaimed artists are involved in it and none of them
humane and easier to live in – because of its smaller size. receive any help from art institutions. Apart from
Its winter, although cold, is sweeter than that of Berlin. MAY SOUND, THE LIGHT the major exhibition No Respect held at the Onassis
The museums are all located close to one another, and OF THE AEGEAN." “Stegi” and the Like New! exhibition at the Benaki His artwork ranges
there are so many galleries that are very professional Museum, not much else has really been done by the from painting
,sculptures,
in what they do. It’s also an “inspirational” city that institutions or foundations to develop this movement. installations to video
supports young artists. Vienna’s architecture, with With that being said, the Municipality of Athens has art and performances.
its neoclassical style, is quite reminiscent of Greece – made an effort in the last four years, thanks also to the He has also created full
there’s even a golden statue of Athena outside Vienna's passion and tireless work of Katerina Koskina. Overall, artwork and branding
parliament building. Last September while I was there the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens for local musicians.
I visited Mumok, the city’s contemporary art museum (EMST) is doing a good job and the Stavros Niarchos
where two floors of the museum were dedicated to a who are also involved in maintaining it. Some major Foundation (SNF), through its ARTWORKS awards,
young artist who uses spray paints which made a great public works are understandably a nuisance. Street has also given an important boost for young artists in
impression on me. For me, Vienna is a model city in how art is spreading at a very fast pace and not everyone Athens. I would say that after Documenta, there is a
it promotes contemporary art, and culture in general. has had time to accept it. Some works touch on social spotlight on us waiting for something new to be born.
Having been involved in street art in the past, issues and are a form of protest which is definitely Your father is Georgios Megoulas, an exceptional
to what extent do you believe that an artist can more peaceful than other forms of protest. But I do sculptor who has also been honored in France.
intervene in the everyday life of people who live in understand that graffiti can still be annoying. With What is your relationship with the medium that
the city? Should such art be viewed as part of an that being said, it is a democratic art form whose main he worked with?
urban environment or do you prefer such works to goal is communication. A city without street art would I grew up in my father's workshop in Piraeus. It was
function as “disruptors” within the city’s fabric? otherwise be boring. frequently visited by poets, painters and all types of
For several years I only did street art, without this being When I was involved with street art, I did it without artists. Until I went to school I had the illusion that
a profession - it didn't even exist then a profession. It was asking anyone for permission and risked being arrested everyone was an artist and that this was how the whole
just a way of being and I didn't think of it as vandalism. many times. Now, I've stopped doing it. I have a voice world operated. I helped him a lot when I was a kid –
I used to think that the city itself was a vandalism of to say what I want and I think it's best to leave the actually with several of the works he created during the
nature, so why should I respect its walls? Later on, I walls to younger people to say what they want. Besides, 90s. When I became a teenager, I stopped helping him
began to change my mentality and think more about I’m fortunate that my work has been recognized and and began to forge my own path. I started painting on
those around me and began to respect the labor of the I can communicate everything I want to say through walls and skateboards, I was quiet but unruly. More
craftsmen who had not only built the city but those the work that I create, perhaps in a more poetic way. recently, I have been trying as much as I can to visit him

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