1 minute read
Christos Tsimaris
9th Feb - 3rd March
I believe that any painting can be reworked as long as it is in my studio. You could say that we grow together. Some of the paintings in my exhibition at The Muse Gallery were started years ago. For instance, “Starstruck” was a study of a self-portrait that I began in 2019.
Recently, I was looking for a subject to paint, and my daughter suggested Timothée Chalamet. We had a conversation about this young and talented Hollywood star, who has an androgynous appearance. That evening, I went to my studio and googled him.
I picked one of the many self-portraits that I had lying around and started painting over it. There was no particular reason why I chose a self-portrait, other than recycling paintings that I was not happy with. Perhaps I was curious to see the metamorphosis from me being the subject to becoming Timothy, or maybe there was some subconscious vanity involved. The way my self-portrait was painted, and the way the metamorphosis started, was more traditional, and what I would call a study However, where I want to go is on a more personal journey of discovery and the creation of an image.
For me, the most important tool is drawing and work ethic. I was fortunate to study art in Thessaloniki, Greece, where the system is more academic and consists of daily live models. The presence of my tutor, Vagelis Dimitreas, was essential. He was excellent at identifying my weaknesses and turning them into elements of uniqueness through hard work.
Basquiat, 2019-2023, 150x200, mixed media
The painting of Basquiat is also another recycled painting that I started a few years back. I wasn’t happy with the way my painting was developing, so as I was looking for a sitting figure online, I came across a photograph of Basquiat with Andy Warhol in the background. Basquiat is looking very calmly at the lens, but for some reason, I wanted to disturb all that and inject some of the energy that you see in a Basquiat painting.
I was pleased to show this painting and have a solo exhibition at The Muse Gallery. It was essential to see my paintings in a clear space that the gallery provides, and for people to see my work in real life.
The gallery is essential for London and for artists who exhibit and participate in the studio residence. It is located in an amazing spot on Portobello Road and is very busy, particularly on market days.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to show at The Muse and look forward to working with them in the future.