The Greek landscape once again constitutes the background for the new body of work by Panos Kokkinias. This time, in addition to the alienation from nature and the transferring of our urban neuroses onto it, one can discern a concern for current political and social developments.
The depictive stereotypes of the Greek psyche, such as the sea and the antiquities, assume new roles, transform themselves and end up in self-nullification. The small human figures seem to lack any contact with their environment. Their efforts to disengage appear to be doomed. Momentary hopes and public celebrations lead to emptiness and despair. The Myth collapses, often in a way bordering between tragedy and comedy.
The distinctive features of his photographic work, such as the staging of the image, the high definition, the clarity of composition and an emphasis on colour, still remain intact in an effort to ensure unhindered access to the subject itself and lure interest away from the intervention of photography.
The Xippas Gallery showroom on 53D, Sofokleous Street, is concurrently presenting representative samples of Panos Kokkinias’s work from the entirety of his artistic production (1995 – 2007). An appointment is required to visit the showroom.
Panos Kokkinias was born in 1965 in Athens. He studied at the School of Visual Arts, New York, at Yale University and at Derby University, UK. He has presented solo exhibitions in Paris and Athens and he has participated in group exhibitions in Europe and America. His works will be on display up to November 6th, 2011 at the 4th Fotofestival in Germany. His first monograph by Powerhouse Books is expected in December 2011 in New York.
