Peace in an age of war
a reversal of terms

Nikos Giavropoulos

"Peace is a period during which war is absent, but in reality, such a period has never existed in the history of mankind."

With this phrase, video artist Nikos Giavropoulos illustrates the concept of his solo exhibition "Peace in an age of war, a reversal of terms".

Nikos Giavropoulos presents his narrative in the form of ancient tragedy where dance, divinity and political power, collide and coexist in an almost humorous way.

It is through this approach that the artist questions, can culture can overpower savagery and the most aggressive instincts?

Curated by: Konstantinos Basios

On the opening day, Oinovation Wines will offer Chimera

Opening party: DJ Ladydust, Suzie Q bar, 12:00, 53 Fokionos Negri Str., Athens

Entrance to the venue is in accordance with current health protocols. The use of a medical mask is compulsory during the public's stay in the exhibition area.

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Curator's text:

Peace in an age of war

-a reversal of terms-

Nikos Giavropoulos’ affinity with the classicizing forms of sculpture cannot go unnoticed. Yet, in his current exhibition and regardless of the much-obliged veneration he definitely adopts towards the cultural tradition, we can observe a very interesting ‘turning point’ regarding his way of expression.

Notwithstanding the fact that the main theme of this tripartite installation is the on-going war in Ukraine, it is very interesting that the red colour is missing all-together. What surprises us is the eclectic application of the blue one. Even though the connotation stems from the fact that the issue of energy is at stake, it is bizarre, yet, extremely bright to apply and suggest this new extraordinary symbolic value.

The overall subdued feeling of this oeuvre is profoundly enhanced, if not encouraged, by the dimly illuminated pieces, thus the impression of a chamber is created, in which unorthodox rites take place: the intention is to provoke the sorrow, as well as, the collective guilt that all visitors vaguely tend to experience, cinematically speaking.

However, it is the subversive and ironic component that N. Giavropoulos cultivates and proposes, once again.

The three different works are presented so that a simultaneous two-fold meaning can be deduced:

1. The chorus is no longer standing; decapitated heads are around a stele, on top of which we can figure out a dripping head. It is the introduction to the unthinkable atrocities every war is infamous of.

2. The dominant Nike, as the eternal personification of the bellicose human vanity, is undermined by a feebly disgraceful fallen angel, in a reversed fashion.

3. The much adorable Madonna is no longer bestowed with a halo, but with a gas burner flame.

In total, all three processed visual impressions, thanks to their final transformation, do manage to impose a different symbolic language that, in principal, could re-arrange and reset the eye of the beholder. It is a protest, an agony and a call that attempts to counter-balance the barbarous images every war provokes…

Konstantinos   Basios
a member of A.I.C.A.