RADIUM PALACE
Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you are defining your work? Or in other words, if you needed to explain what you do to someone “outside” the art world, what is the essence it comes down to in your oeuvre and why?
I’m a dancer and choreographer. Plus, I use the camera as a medium to capture the body motion and create narrative yet abstract explorations of it. Not a director but I do guide in the set.
My artwork’s essence is to provoke audience’s thinking and sensing. Intimacy, re-perceiving the body and sensuality are proper words to describe what I do. Why? Because art has to be moving.
Αrt is a form of communication so my deeper need (I guess of every human being) is communication.
How do you personally define “wellness”, but also in terms of the collective?
As a first university generation in my family, gay, white, low class, able-bodied, cis male living between Athens & London I have only experienced economic and social oppression.
“Wellness” has to do with personal mental and physical balance. Being sensitive and open enough to achieve consciousness in every step you make.
Practicing this with consistency you are able to be part of the collective.
Every action you make is political so it’s about balancing your steps with the ones that are being commanded by the power systems.
Of course, this means getting off balance with the power structures as they are always against your personal growth.
If we talk about today’s artists creating and contributing healing spaces and works that can transform society and restricted mind sets…how can they reach the collective that is not aware of being a collective?
Creating relevant artwork can always be the answer.
Relevant equals to sincere and personal work.
Work means labor. As an artist I haven’t found any answers to that as I struggle to exist financially and creatively.
I’m sure it has to do with institution and government policies but I’m too confused at the moment to respond properly.
Image: Angelos Papadopoulos
Can you share how spending time and exhibiting on site on the island of Lesvos influenced you? (Mentally, physically, emotions, sensations.)?
As I was in a very bad mental situation, this experience healed me a bit. It felt like a high-school trip with amazing people (artists, audience, locals, and organization people) who made me take time and distance from my everyday life and re-focus. The experience and the feedback of the performance was something I still savor.
It seems that unlocked some dynamics inside me, not expressed before.
It was my first durational performance and it was revealing. Of course, Lesvos is surrounded by the sea which is always healing
Which work or approach of your fellow artists in this exhibition inspired you especially and why?
Well, I’m coming from the dancing scene and I’m going to use this as an excuse not to answer this question. I was amazed by the great pieces. Nicolas, the exhibition curator, did a great job and brought over amazing artists.
Yes, I’m avoiding giving a straight answer because I met all these brilliant people and I don’t want to distinguish between them. They were all special.
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“RADIUM PALACE” Finissage: March 6, 2022 in Agia Paraskevi, Lesvos
K-Gold Temporary Gallery in co-organisation with the North Aegean Region curated by Nicolas Vamvouklis
