Vasilis Avramidis / Artist
Interview by George Alexandrakis
Vasilis Avramidis, a young and gifted artist, was born in Greece and currently resides in London. He graduated from Central Saint Martins, specializing in Fine Arts. His impressive portfolio encompasses a range of solo exhibitions and noteworthy contributions to group exhibitions worldwide.
Minimalist architectural structures are embraced by an imposing nature, the darkness is ‘interrupted’ by an intense light. Is this a game of contrasts or is it about vital elements complementing one another?
It’s more like an attempt to employ elements found in museum paintings, and through this atmosphere, to investigate how a contemporary landscape can reveal certain hidden aspects that present interest, and speak about the human condition.
Does the drawing of buildings -influenced we may say by modern architecture which harmonizes with nature (eg ‘Fallingwater’ by Frank Lloyd Wright)- have to do with a subconscious rejection of the urban centre or does it aim at something else?
These works do not aim to become any kind of critique on something. They want to become autonomous visual experiences, which nevertheless use our collective memory as a vehicle. 20th century’s architecture, contemporary architecture, as well as minimalistic sculpture often become part of the visual language I’m trying to construct.
The absence of human existence, which often seems to be replaced by an anthropomorphic nature, is a typical feature of your work.
What’s apparent in these landscapes, is the human mark, very often as architecture itself, which is the most permanent mark that may remain behind. The human mark is what transforms a landscape into a place. That’s why I often call them places or locations, rather than landscapes.
Your fifth solo exhibition “Outskirts” is currently being exhibited in London. You have already taken part in several group exhibitions and in addition, your work has been published in well-known magazines and newspapers in the UK. How are things there for an artist, both in terms of his work’s recognition and salary-wise, compared to Greece?
The London art scene is one of the most interesting scenes in the world. That’s where I show most of my work, and I try to exhibit elsewhere whenever I can. Next year, some works are planned to be exhibited in the United States, Singapore and Japan, as well as with my gallery in Greece. As far as making a living is concerned, things are equally difficult in any place, for me as much as for most young artists.
How valuable is the knowledge of art history for you, as well as having studied art? How dangerous is the lack of them?
For what I am currently doing, some aspects of art history are necessary, and studies have played their role. However, every artist has different priorities, and you can see interesting results, coming from different mixtures of knowledge and studies. That’s one of the most beautiful parts of looking at contemporary art.
What’s the role of art in your life? Is it an eternal process?
It’s one of the things that seems to make sense.
Surrealism and realism in a play of light and darkness. In a world threatened by, perhaps, the deepest darkness of the 21st century, struggling to save its ideals and dealing with huge obstacles, what would you lighten up?
I don’t know, but I want to be optimistic, because positive things happen around us constantly.
Website: http://www.avramidis.info/
Photo courtesy of the artist.
