17 minute read
Philip Tsiaras
from VOLTA Magazine #48
Σε ένα μωσαϊκό εκατομμυρίων κουκκίδων, ο διεθνής καλλιτέχνης της pop art, παρουσιάζει μοντέρνους πίνακες διασημοτήτων, τους οποίους αποκαλεί «Ντίβες, Περσόνες, Τέρατα και Φίλους». Ως παιδί δύο κόσμων, ο Ελληνο-Αμερικάνος Τσιάρας ενώνει τον παλιό κόσμο με τον νέο, με τη δημιουργία ενός προσωπικού σύμπαντος στο οποίο εκθέτει τις λαμπρές, σπάνιες δημιουργίες του ως ζωγράφος, γλύπτης, φωτογράφος και ποιητής. Γιος Ελλήνων μεταναστών από την Βόρεια Ελλάδα, γεννήθηκε στις ΗΠΑ και έλαβε προνομιούχα εκπαίδευση στο Κολλέγιο Άμχερστ, όπου σπούδασε μουσική και συγκριτική λογοτεχνία. Έχοντας εκπαιδευτεί στην κλασική μουσική, κέρδισε υποτροφία στην ποίηση, τόσο για τα δικά του ποιήματα, όσο και για μεταφράσεις κειμένων σύγχρονων Ελλήνων ποιητών, κυρίως του Ρίτσου, του Καβάφη και του Καρυωτάκη. Μελέτησε μαζί με τον διάσημο καλλιτέχνη Λουκά Σαμαρά, από τον οποίο επηρεάστηκε βαθιά και τον οποίο θεωρεί μέντορα. Η αστείρευτη δημιουργικότητα, η νεανική ενέργεια, και η δυνατή δημιουργική γλώσσα, συγχωνεύονται στα έργα του με αυθεντικότητα και άνεση. Ο Νεωτερισμός και η Pop Art από τη φύση τους συνδυάζονται με ποιητικές και ιστορικές αναφορές της κλασικής ιστορίας. Ο Τσιάρας είναι ένας Υπερ-νεωτεριστής με παλιά ψυχή. Οι πίνακές του ταξιδεύουν από το στούντιό του, που βρίσκεται, στο Manhattan της Νέας Υόρκης, σε ιδιωτικές συλλογές ανά τον κόσμο. Έχει λάβει διάφορα σημαντικά βραβεία, όπως την Υποτροφία Τόμας Γουάτσον, 2 Εθνικές Επιχορηγήσεις, Βραβείο Συνολικής Προσφοράς από το Ίδρυμα Αλεξάνδριον, Νέα Υόρκη, Βραβείο Αριστείας στον τομέα της Τέχνης από το Ελληνικό Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών, και το Χρυσό Μετάλλιο της Generali για την “Civilita Venezia”. Πρόσφατα συναντηθήκαμε για να συζητήσουμε σχετικά με τις νέες ατομικές του εκθέσεις στις Γκαλερί Blender στην Αθήνα, και Eight στο Mayfair του Λονδίνου, σε συνεργασία με τις varvararozagalleries. Τον Νοέμβριο, ο Τσιάρας θα εκθέσει στο Μονακό με χορηγία του Πρίγκιπα Αλβέρτου, με ένα σύνολο δημιουργικών κουκκίδων, που θα συνδυαστούν για να δημιουργήσουν το πορτρέτο του πανέμορφου προσώπου της Πριγκίπισσας Grace Kelly.
In a mosaic of millions of dots, international pop artist presents modern paintings of celebrities that he calls “Divas, Personas, Monsters and Friends”. A child of o worlds, Greek-American Tsiaras fuses the old world with the new while creating a personal universe that exhibits a brilliance of rare creations as a painter, sculptor, photographer, and poet. Born in the United States, the son of Greek immigrants who le worn torn Northern Greece, he received a privileged education at Amherst College where he studied music and comparative literature. A trained classical musician, he received a fellowship for his own poetry as well his and translations of contemporary Greek poets, primarily Ritsos, Cava and Kariotakis. He studied alongside the famous artist Lucas Samaras, who deeply influenced him and whom he considers a great mentor. Boundless creativi, youthful energy, and strong creative language, merge in his work with unpretentious ease. Modernism and Pop Art combine naturally with poetic and historical references from classical history. Tsiaras is a Super-modernist in an old soul. From his Manhattan studio, his paintings travel to private collectors all over the world. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Thomas Watson Fellowship, 2 National Endowment Grants, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alexandrion Foundation, NYC, Excellence in the Arts, Greek Ministry of the Exterior, and Generali’s Gold Metal Award for “Civilita Venezia”. We recently met to discuss his new solo exhibitions at The Blender Gallery in Athens and at Gallery Eight in Mayfair, London, in collaboration with Varvara Roza Galleries. In November he will exhibit his art in Monaco under the patronage of Prince Albert, in a multitude of creative dots that will combine to create the portrait of Princess Grace Kelly’s beautiful face.
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Philip, being as an internationally recognized as you are, do you ever feel hesitant to take risks with your work? Risks are exciting, if you don’t take them, you never discover anything at all. Calculated risks are important too, because they help you make “mistakes”, smart mistakes which help you evolve and confront the demon of all demons-repetition —the anathema of the artist. When I went to make glass in Murano, Venice, I knew nothing about making glass, at all. So, it was a big risk, obviously because it was totally unknown to me, expensive, and required the help of others. I jumped into glass making-it was luxurious punishment, “furnacefear”, as the poet Philip Larkin says. I ‘ve also designed sets and costumes for a modern dance, and branded an entire Vineyard in Virginia. Who knew that fear can be your friend!
■ How do you like working In the Greek Artworld? I started very young working as an artist in Greece. I began with the Bernie Gallery in the late 70’s with the help of Alexandros Iolas. I’ve made museum exhibitions in Greece as well, the Pinakotects of Siros, Ithaca, and Corfu, Museums of Larisa and Thessaloniki. About 8 years ago I joined the Blender Gallery. To some degree I helped put gallerist Varvara Roza of London together with Iason Theophanides of The Blender Gallery, and it has proven to be an excellent combination.
■ Volta is featuring Roza in this Fall issue. What do you think of her? I think Varvara Roza will be one of the most talked about art dealers of the next decade.
■ Your new work, contains millions of dots like a mosaic. How did you come up with this idea and how is it perceived? Dots are another way of touching the subject, of getting close on a micro level. The history of painting has many artists using the dot, notably Impressionist painters like Seurat and Signac to mention a few. But for me the most vital use of the Dot, (the collection of small pieces of glass, tile or paint), is in the mosaics of Greek, Roman and Byzantine art. I use, what I consider a loving dot, as a way of recreating iconic personas, a little like Warhol but with far more detail.
■ Yes, a London Critic referred to you as the Greek Warhol, did you like that? I thought it humorous, I don’t particularly like to be branded by anyone, but if it has to be someone, I guess Warhol is OK. dot paintings, I realized that I was getting very involved with the subject, almost too involved. You’re looking in the eyes of somebody whose face you are sculpting with points, evolving a persona for countless hours in meticulous detail, augmenting, reconstructing-a face, a bit like a psycho-plastic surgeon. But there is also the Consciousness that you cannot escape, theirs and yours, It’s a weird connectivity. I am like a vampire trying to make others immortal through the kiss of the Dot.!
■ Out of all these portraits, who are those that you admire? I admire Elon Musk. He has personality issues that make him less lovable, but he an amazing genius of our time. In the world of technology, I believe that Steve Jobs and Elon Musk are the two greatest. In the world of art, Picasso, Dali, Frida Kahlo and Samaras are some of my heroes. In music, Hendrix, Bowie and Freddie Mercury. There are times in these portraits that I combine individuals into one body. Like a snake with 2 heads. I did Donald Trump and Putin as a geopolitical statement, two monsters trapped in one body forever. I also joined Maria Callas and Jackie-O into one Siamese body as though they would fight over Onassis into perpetuity! I’d like to do Zelensky because he is perhaps the most heroic leader of our time. I have toyed with the idea of doing the portrait of Antetok-
3-meter, golden bronze sculpture entitled Social Climber at Vouliagmeni new yachting marine.
Ένα χρυσό μπρούτζινο γλυπτό 3 μέτρα, με τίτλο Social Climber στην νέα μαρίνα της Βουλιαγμένης.
ounmpo, not only is he one of the greatest of basketball players ever, but he is an example that immigration can also be very positive for a country-hence Yannis, The Greek Freak. Then of course, there is Alexander the Great, the absolute maximum of portraits.
■ Are there really new trends in art or are things we see derived from the classics? The only thing that can be considered “new” is something that uses technology, either digital or maybe even the metaverse. However, much of this technologically driven art, although it has many bells and whistles, is ultimately cold and uninteresting. Everything in realty is built on the past, but with fresh and imaginative and even extreme variations. Looking back at history intelligently is the way to look forward. What’s the future without history? Can we forget our loved ones, our family, our history and deny our origins, our culture. There is no real present without the past. If you read Sophocles, he talks about the weight of an oxen’s foot on your tongue. That is as surrealistic as any modern surrealist artist would ever get. The ancient Greeks touched on everything, including surrealism, or the idea of a computing machine. Take Lysistrata, what is more politically advanced then a society of women cutting off sex to end a War. It is genius. So, nothing is completely original which makes doing something “new” even more difficult.
■ Are you doing something in Greece now? I'm preparing for an exhibition in Venice and London at the moment but in Athens I am reinstating a sculpture the I made for the Venice Biennale that was on Grand Canal. It will be placed in the centre of the new Astir Marina which is opening in the next few months. It is a 3-meter, golden bronze sculpture entitled Social Climber. Something that nobody thinks they are!
■ Finally, where does all this inspiration come from? The mythological or Hollywood idea of the artist is incorrect. No funky muse comes down to inspire you, unless you have extremely good dreams or drugs. Creativity comes from work, dedicated daily work. It does not come from working once a week on Sundays, nor does it come from some intermittent Muse. As boring as it may sound, it is the God of chronic work that inspires.
Alexia Stella Mantzari, ABY Princess Katherine of Serbia, Nena Papamanolopoulou The Minister of Health Mr Athanasios Plevris, the President Dr. Zisis Boukouvalas, ABY Princess Katherine of Serbia, Nena Papamanolopoulou, with donors Stella Alexia Mantzari and the couple Dimitris and Eleni Boussis
A huge donation of Lifeline Hellas and Stella Alexia Mantzari to the “Helena Venizelou” Hospital
Η ΑΒΥ Πριγκίπισσα Αικατερίνη και το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο του ανθρωπιστικού οργανισμού Lifeline Hellas In front of the new wing Dimitris Bousis, Stella Alexia Mantzari, Eleni Boussis, Dr. Zisis Boukouvalas, Dr. Alkistis Prinou Boukouvala παρευρέθηκαν στα εγκαίνια της επέκτασης της μονάδας νεογνών του νοσοκομείου «Έλενα Βενιζέλου» την οποία προσέφερε το Lifeline Hellas χάρη στην δωρεά της κυρίας Αλεξίας Στέλλας Μάντζαρη και της εταιρείας της AS Marine. Χάρη στις επιπλέον 6 θέσεις που δημιουργήθηκαν, τα νεογνά δεν θα χρειάζεται πια να μεταφερθούν σε άλλο νοσοκομείο. Επίσης, παραδόθηκε η θερμοκοιτίδα που προσέφερε ο Δημήτρης και η Ελένη Μπούση για την λειτουργία της νέας πτέρυγας. - - - - - - - ABY Princess Katherine and the Board of Directors of the humanitarian organization Lifeline Hellas attended the opening of the expansion of the neonatal unit of the "Elena Venizelou" hospital, which was offered by Lifeline Hellas thanks to the donation of Mrs. Alexia Stella Mantzari and the AS Marine company. Thanks to the additional 6 places created, newborns will no longer need to be transferred to another hospital. Also, the incubator offered by Dimitris and Eleni Boussis for the operation of the new wing was delivered.
Dr. Angy Margariti Andrews with her son Alexandros Andrews
Photographs: Michalis Katsogiannis / Studio Panoulis
The Ambassador of Ukraine Sergii Shutenko with his wife Alla Polyova with David Andrews and his wife Angy Margariti Andrews
Nadia Iglessi, Peggy Filippou Alexandra and Andreas Panagiotou Harry and Demetra Theocharis Dr. Alkistis Prinou Boukouvala and Dr. Zisis Boukouvalas
LIFELINE HELLAS Charity Concert «Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center» at Odeon of Herodes Atticus
O διεθνής ανθρωπιστικός οργανισμός Lifeline Hellas σε συνεργασία με την IMG Artists και την visionary culture, διοργάνωσε μια μοναδική φιλανθρωπική συναυλία με τίτλο “Songs we Love” στις 13 Σεπτεμβρίου, προσκαλώντας στην Αθήνα, μια από τις διασημότερες JAZZ ορχήστρες του κόσμου, την «JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER (JALC) στη Νέα Υόρκη, με έξι από τους all-star μουσικούς της και τρείς μεγάλες κυρίες της Jazz - με κορυφαία την σπουδαία ερμηνεύτρια Catherine Russel. O σκοπός της εκδήλωσης, είναι η προσφορά θερμοκοιτίδων στο Πανεπιστημιακό Γενικό νοσοκομείο «Αττικόν». - - - - - - - -
On September 13th, the international humanitarian organization Lifeline
Hellas, in collaboration with IMG Artists and visionary culture, organized a unique charity concert entitled "Songs we Love," inviting to Athens, one of the most famous JAZZ orchestras in the world, "JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER (JALC) in New York, with six of its all-star musicians and three great ladies of Jazz - led by the great performer Catherine Russel. The event's goal was to provide incubators at the "Attikon" University General Hospital.
Photographs: Michalis Katsogiannis / Studio Panoulis
Mayra Tsavliri Paulina Billiri, Fotini Androulaki Alexia and Vassilis Savramis Manos Velanis, Dr. Elena Lazaridi Velani
Nadia Zacharaki, Dr. Zisis Boukouvalas, Dr. George Naoum, Stella-Alexia Mantzari, Marilena Konstantinidis, Dr. Alkistis Prinou, Tsitsika-Trikardou Emi
Evangelia Papamanolopoulou, Mimi Papamanolopoulou, Ambassador George J. Tsunis, Dr. Leonidas Platanias, Stella-Alexia Mantzari Filippou Lazaros, Archimandrite Andreas of Nazareth, Stella-Alexia Mantzari
Deputy Minister Lefteris Avgenakis & Lena Bania-Avgenaki, Stella-Alexia Mantzari, Ambassador George J. Tsunis
Symeon Tsomokos, Julia Tseti, Giannis Trikardos George Prokopiou - DynacomTankersManagementltd, Minister Kostis & Popi Hatzidaki, Symeon P. Palios - DianaShippingInc. Angelos Angelopoulos, Miltiadis Fiorentzis, Nikolas Karagiaouris
Minister Giannis Plakiotakis and Aphrodite DoritisPlakiotakis, Stella-Alexia Mantzari, George Pateras State Secretary for Labor and Public Affairs Domna-Maria Michailidou, Evangelia Papamanolopoulou, George Mantzaris, Stella-Alexia Mantzari
Giannis Chrysoulakis - General Secretary of Hellenes Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Dr. Leonidas Platanias - Director, Professor of Oncology, and Head of Cancer Research at the Robert H. Lurie Research Center at Northwestern University in Chicago, Stella-Alexia Mantzari - Managing Director A.S. Marine Ltd., George J. Tsunis - U.S. Ambassador to the United States
Stella-Alexia Mantzari, Fotini Androulaki, Ilias Hatzis
Domna-Maria Michailidou – Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Giannis Trikardos and Emi Tsitsika-Trikardou Hadjimichael Harris, Stella-Alexia Mantzari, Cpt. Panagiotis N. Tsakos, Chief of General Staff Stylianos Petrakis, Ambassador George J. Tsunis
A.S. Marine Ltd. Dinner Reception for “Posidonia” 2022
On the occasion of "Posidonia 2022", a biennial exhibition and meeting place for the international shipping community, Ms. Stella Alexia Mantzaris, the Founder and CEO of A.S. Marine Ltd., hosted a reception on May 24th at Dionysos Zonar’s in honor of Dr. Leonidas Platanias, Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Center and the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation at Northwestern University. The President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Mr. George Pateras spoke on behalf of the Shipping industry underlying Greece’s prominent role in the world’s maritime force. Mr. Pateras also highlighted the remarkable scientific contributions of Greek Physicians and Biomedical Scientists who continue to be significantly recognized as the most influential minds worldwide.
Honorary Medal to Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos Ms. Stella Alexia Mantzaris recognized Captain Panagiotis Tsakos as her mentor who influenced her in her first steps of her successful career path and honored him with a very special medal, representing the ruler of the island of Spetses, Hatzigiannis Mexi, created in 1931 on the occasion of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Revolution and the Battle of Spetses ("Armata"). Ms. Stella Alexia Mantzaris, known for her great philanthropic work and spiritual contributions, was honored by Mr. Lazaros Filippou on behalf of the Diocese of Kiti in Larnaca, Cyprus, with a bronze icon of Jesus Christ, to express the appreciation of the Orthodox Church for her missionary work. Archimandrite Andreas of Nazareth awarded her the medal of the Orchard of St. Lazarus.
- - - - - - - - - - - - Με αφορμή τα «Ποσειδώνια 2022», τη διετή έκθεση και σημείο συνάντησης της διεθνούς ναυτιλιακής κοινότητας, η κα Στέλλα Αλεξία Μάντζαρη, Ιδρύτρια και Διευθύνουσα Σύμβουλος της A.S. Marine Ltd., παρέθεσε δεξίωση στις 24 Μαΐου στο «Διόνυσος Zonar’s» προς τιμήν του Δρ. Λεωνίδα Πλατανιά, Διευθυντή του Ολοκληρωμένου Κέντρου Robert H. Lurie και του Ιδρύματος Ιπποκράτειου Έρευνας για τον Καρκίνο στο Πανεπιστήμιο Northwestern. Ο Πρόεδρος του Ναυτιλιακού Επιμελητηρίου Ελλάδος κύριος Γεώργιος Πατέρας μίλησε εκ μέρους του ναυτιλιακού τομέα, υπογραμμίζοντας τον εξέχοντα ρόλο της Ελλάδας ως παγκόσμια ναυτική δύναμη. Ο κ. Πατέρας τόνισε επίσης τις αξιοσημείωτες επιστημονικές συνεισφορές Ελλήνων Ιατρών και Ερευνητών Επιστημόνων που συνεχίζουν να αναγνωρίζονται ως τα σημαντικότερα μυαλά με τη μεγαλύτερη επιρροή παγκοσμίως. Τιμητικό μετάλλιο στον Καπετάν Παναγιώτη Ν. Τσάκο Η κυρία Στέλλα Αλεξία Μάντζαρη αναγνώρισε ως μέντορά της τον καπετάν Παναγιώτη Τσάκο που την επηρέασε στα πρώτα της βήματα της επιτυχημένης καριέρας της και τον τίμησε με ένα πολύ ιδιαίτερο μετάλλιο, το οποίο εκπροσωπεί τον ηγεμόνα των Σπετσών Χατζηγιάννη Μέξη, και δημιουργήθηκε το 1931 με αφορμή των εορτασμών για τα 100 χρόνια από την Επανάσταση και τη Μάχη των Σπετσών («Αρμάτα»). Την κυρία Στέλλα Αλεξία Μάντζαρη, γνωστή για το μεγάλο φιλανθρωπικό της έργο και την πνευματική της προσφορά, τίμησε ο κ. Λάζαρος Φιλίππου εκ μέρους της Μητρόπολης Κιτίου Λάρνακας Κύπρου, με μία χάλκινη εικόνα του Ιησού Χριστού, θέλοντας να εκφράσει την εκτίμηση της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας για το ιεραποστολικό της έργο. Ο Αρχιμανδρίτης Ανδρέας από τη Ναζαρέτ της απένειμε το μετάλλιο του Κήπου του Αγίου Λαζάρου.
