Aristeidis’s Rhythm of Creation
A conversation with Aristeidis Lappas, a bright star in the art community of Athens, Greece
July 2021 - No. 2
Lappas traditionally structured his work on urbanity and Greek identity, but has evolved into more obscure and abstract ideas since his debut as a full-time artist. His immense growth and maturity as an artist is celebrated across Athens, where he lives and works.
He recently wrapped his solo exhibit, “Tenderness of a Cutting Sword,” at The Breeder, one of the most dynamic and influential galleries in Greece. In his exhibit, Lappas explored characters based on mythologies from ancient Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. The elements of the work challenged the standard narratives of light/dark and good/evil, creating a new reality for viewers to question. You can explore some of his work featured in the exhibit in our interview with Lappas below.
What do you want people to know about you as an artist?
I feel like I am the vessel of my work. My creations exist because they find a way through me, and I ultimately hope my audience can carry my work forward by adding to it and crafting their own stories.
How has your work transformed since you’ve matured as an artist?
My work transforms with the different dialogues I have with myself about my worldview. It took me years to find and shape my artistic voice and visual language. During those years of discovery, I took inspiration from important moments and environments in my life and applied them directly into my art. In my work now, I focus more on my interests and ambitions because I am more comfortable with who I am as an artist.
Aristeidis Lappas in his studio in Athens, Greece
What is one of the most challenging parts of your creative process?
The most challenging part right now is finding a rhythm for my creative process. There is a lot of attention and balance that goes into creating. My goal is to tend to my process everyday to get the output I want and expect from myself.
Where does the inspiration for the vibrant colors, patterns, and textures you use in your work stem from?
I like to think of the elements of my work musically. I need to fine tune the balances of color, pattern, and texture. How can I fit all these notes together with a solid scale I’ve built? The vibrant colors simply feel good to me and I integrate the patterns to connect with the different cultures that I explore in my work. The specific patterns I use stem from my research into the many traditional textiles and designs from these cultures.
“Athina and Her Girl Kill the Beast”, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2020
Please describe Athens in three words.
Grimy, textural, radiant.
How does being based in Athens affect your work?
Athens has a relaxing pace that I love. It’s not as advanced as other cities, but it has the buildup of its ancient history and diverse people that create a charming and inspiring atmosphere.
Athens used to play a bigger part of my work, although I still include nuances of it. I like to explore the different identities of “Greekness” to compare the perceptions of Greece by those living in the country to those abroad. Through my research, I discover that the perceptions are quite different. Those abroad understand the ancient culture of Greece, but do not know how colorful the history and its people truly are. Greece is built up of people from many different backgrounds and ethnicities and that should be celebrated.
“Death by Fair Hands”, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2020
You were recently featured as part of Arthens’s bespoke art tours founded by Theodora Koumoundourou. How was that experience for you?
It was really cool! Theodora and her tour group visited my studio and we got to discuss my work and also talk about life happening outside of Greece. It’s important to create networks with those outside of your community to exchange new ideas on art and life. I also got to see how the world is changing in other countries through my connections with the visitors that stopped by.
What opportunities do you feel artists living in Greece have that they couldn’t get anywhere else?
That depends on the individual, but the spirit of the ancient history of Greece makes the country a special destination for working. Greece feels like home to me, but other artists may find comfort in another location. There is an energy from every city that sticks to you, and everyone has to find the one that speaks to them most. For me right now, that’s Athens.
“Snakes”, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2020
What would the ideal artistic community of Greece look like to you?
Greece’s art scene is very vibrant! There are many spaces opening and artists coming to work here, creating a lively community. I would prefer if Greece were more active in the European art scene and included more artists from its diverse population. Greece is home to people of many cultural backgrounds, like North Africa and the Middle East, and I wish these subcultures could participate more. It’s not just the traditionally Greek people that are documenting and influencing the culture, there are other voices and identities that have been living here for generations and should be heard.
Lappas is currently working on a performance art piece that will be shown on the island of Lesvos, Greece this August. The piece will focus on the transformation of a person who finds their true self, separate from the stereotypes and adopted roles society places on individuals. Connect with Lappas on his Instagram here to learn more.
Cyprus’s Fashion Outlier
Constantinos Mavropetros is a special fixture in the culture scene of Cyprus. He is an Account Executive at StudentLife, a media platform aiming to enhance collegiate life in Cyprus, and a burgeoning fashion influencer.
Mavropetros’s fashion and lifestyle platform is called Strictly Stylish, and has a growing fanbase on Instagram. It’s a platform where he explores his limitless fashion style and identity through cutting edge photoshoots and designer collaborations.
Mavropetros in Eleftheria Square in Nicosia, Cyprus. He is wearing Maria Aristidou, a local Cypriot designer
Photographer: Tatiana Anaxagorou
When discussing what influenced his desire to establish a fashion platform in Cyprus, Mavropetros says “I couldn’t find the fashion pieces I wanted on the island because more mainstream, trendy, brands are here. So I decided to fill this void by looking for brands in other European markets.” This is how Mavropetros discovered labels that spoke to his desire for individuality, where he could play with womenswear, color, patterns, jewelry, and other accessories.
“I always keep an open mind to gather inspiration from whatever moves me. It could be music, film, or other artists and fashion authorities,” Mavropetros says of what sparks his creativity to explore unconventional fashion looks. There’s no singular way to describe Mavropetros’s style except experimental. He does not follow the sometimes tired fashion trends in Cyprus, but challenges conventional gender norms and beauty perspectives. Being one of the few male fashion influencers on the island also affords Mavropetros with interesting advantages of novelty and shock factor when he wears unconventional garments.
Jacket by Anastasis Anastasiou, hat by BYSJU, sneakers by W-21
Photographer: Nakis Antoniou
“I want to work with fashion labels that have their own unique footprint and share a distinct message of acceptance and originality with their followers,” Mavropetros says about the brands he chooses to work with. Fashion for him is his escape from the everyday where he can challenge stereotypes and show his followers that “experimenting with clothes can be exciting, freeing, and empowering.”
As he continues to develop his platform, Mavropetros notices a shift in the Cyprus fashion scene where shoppers in their mid-to-late twenties are supporting more local designers. Mavropetros is unsure where the shift is coming from, but it’s certainly an exciting development for him.
He feels the creatives on the island can provide unmatched details in their designs because of the overwhelming inspiration Cyprus can provide. From its beaches, mountains, and caves, to its exotic location bridging Europe and the Middle East, Cyprus can taunt any imagination.
“The young designers in Cyprus have special talents, but it’s initially difficult for them to expose their work to the right people,” Mavropetros says after speaking with a number of designers during his photoshoot collaborations and attending university fashion shows on the island. He feels building a space for the designers to learn how to market themselves can be beneficial to the individual creatives and also to the island itself. Improvements in manufacturing costs, customer service, and brand exposure may help advance the fashion scene on the island and provide locals with the monetary opportunity and genuine interest to purchase more local designs. “I want to find new ways to discover local artists too. I want to collaborate with more of them and support them,” Mavropetros says.
Mavropetros wears an outfit by Cypriot designers: ROTS, Andrea Rotsaki’s fashion collection, hat by Koshi Concept, shoes from Aldo
Photographer: Kontantinos Kepolas
While the fashion scene in Cyprus may be nascent, there are considerable clusters of growth and potential. Until more of the island’s population catches on to the wonders of experimental fashions, we have Mavropetros’s thrilling styles to keep us at the edge of our seats.
Keep up with Mavropetros at his Instagram here
We want to hear your thoughts and comments each month as we showcase young up-and-coming artists. Do not hesitate to reply directly to this email or at connect@kalominanews.com to share your voice.
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