NEW ARTWORKS: Panagiotis Koulouras

This column, is hosting new works, of younger and older artists who either are on exhibition this days or had recently been exposed, in order to grope together with the artists all aspects of their work, just as in the case of Panagiotis Koulouras. The series of works that presents at the Eleftheria Tseliou Gallery, is strong as cry, silent-emotional and sensitive, such as the time and his perpetual flow. Through the selection of the minimum chromatic and pictorial- the great is born and from the major- the minor as a visual path and thoughtful approach…

By Efi Michalarou
  Photo: Eleftheria Tseliou Gallery Archive

Mr. Koulouras through the work, you are presenting in your solo exhibition ”Melencolia”, we observe that different means of expression are used as spread of your work, what purposes they serve?
Each medium whether it is oil painting, engraving, or watercolor are simply tools that carry their own weight and their usefulness. As such I use them. They are never an end in themselves, no matter how charming they are.
The installation that is a reference to the “Ephemeral Monuments” creates intense feelings and associations, in terms of both iconography, but also the memories that retrieves by referring in various socio-political situations. Main role plays the material that is used, which is sharp and at the same very powerful, the marble. Are the news for you so keen? They affect you so heavily.
I stand opposite the news. I am an observer. Having set myself on this privileged position, I see the mechanism, how we guzzle them and found that these are the common ground on which we are determined in space and time. Marble is a material transparent and monumental, on which was written the history (mainly for propaganda purposes and emancipation) Witness documents of every era.
Or maybe this artwork is sarcastic comment, towards the ephemeral and the way we manage its influence on our lives?
I have no intention to be sarcastic or demonstrative. I record the information. How each one of us handles them it is another matter. However, the way we manage them, make us each time to be what we are.
Another artwork of the exhibition is a reference to the time, with simplicity, serenity and clarity through pencil and paper, what role-plays the time in your work, causes you agonies?
The artwork (41 Days) is painted in watercolor. It is important because it is transparent and fluid. This is enough for me. I have no agonies about time. As I look and live his subdivisions is beautiful. I leave things to mature with stoicism as a farmer, slowly, without hurry.
We observe that it is one of the few times where one section of artworks with different sizes and with different means of expression, create a harmonious coexistence, how this is achieved and what messages are transferred through your artworks?
The fact that I regard the expressive means, only as tools, is what allows me to put them to do the job for which they are constructed. Like when a factory builds a motorcycle and assembles parts, which are of different materials, for example the bodywork from carbon fiber, the motor from steel and wheels from rubber. At the end, the point is the motorcycle to do her work. The end is to make the bike to work. That is to take us to a trip…

Info: ‘’Melencolia’’, Eleftheria Tseliou Gallery, 3 Iraklitou Str., Kolonaki, Athens, Duration: 11/11-6/12/14, Days & Hours: Tue-Fri: 11:30-20:00, Sat:11:30-15:00 , www.tseliougallery.com