Page 71 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2024
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ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
 culture

               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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