Art & Literature

Art & LiteratureBy Diane Adam

Art is found in many forms. Just ask internationally recognized sculptor of Hellenic descent, Nikos Floros, who transforms old soda cans into critically acclaimed works of art. Last month Russia was taken by storm as over four million visitors visited his exhibition at the Tsaritsyno State Museum and Reserve in Moscow. The exhibition of Floros’ unique aluminum sculptural cos-tumes inspired by Maria Callas, Grace Kelly and Cath-erine the Great, enthralled visitors. I recently spoke with Floros about his very modern medium, Greece, and the possibility of his exhibition coming to Chicago.

Where are your parents from in Greece?My family is from Tripolis, Arkadia, Greece, an area

which has a great deal of natural beauty, serenity and where people live in harmony with nature.

When did you first realize you wanted to become a sculptor?As far back as I can remember, I wanted to create and, al-

though may not have specifically thought about being an artist as a child, I think it just naturally evolved from my desire and internal need to create.

You have received critical acclaim from around the world for your use of a very modern medium—aluminum. Explain how this evolved?

For my artwork, I use recycled materials which have included newspapers, magazines, wrapping paper, but primarily aluminum cans which I transform into fabric-like material used to create my sculptural designs. This method was created and patented by me in 2003. I began working with consumable products, because I believe our modern temples today are supermarkets and malls, where you feel you exist, in other words, “I consume therefore I exist.” Aluminum, a material which characterizes our modern

Q & A with NIKOS FLOROS

era, is itself a very modern creation and is most available and prevalent in our everyday beverage cans. One of the most recog-nizable and prevalent brands in our modern era is Coca-Cola. En-cased in a common aluminum beverage can, it is known through-out the world and a powerful symbol of power and influence.

Throughout history, clothes have projected status, and served the wealthy and powerful as symbols of their strength and influ-ence over others. Clothes play a vital role in how others perceive people and how those wearing them behave. Today we call this “branding” or marketing. The clothes worn by famous and in-fluential people such as Queen Elizabeth I, Maria Callas, Grace Kelly, Catherine the Great and others have played a vital role in projecting their influence and power.

Through my artwork, I aim to combine all of these elements to create an alternate perception. Utilizing this very modern me-

The exhibition of Floros’ unique aluminum sculptural costumes inspired by Maria Callas, Grace Kelly and Catherine the Great, enthralled visitors.

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Art & Literature

Art & Literature

dium, aluminum, along with a very modern and powerful brand, Coca-Cola, I have weaved a new form of “fabric” to create these sculptural costumes evoking the power and influence of these historical figures and personalities. Through these sculptural cos-tumes, utilizing a material which is a product of modern society, I aim to make evident the great power and strength that the autoc-racy of modern day marketing and advertising exercise over com-mon man and how the raison d’etre of our society has become “I consume, therefore I am.

A major inspiration for me has been the lives of extraordinary women such as Queen Elizabeth I, Katherine the Great, Maria Callas and Grace Kelly. These women themselves have been transformative figures who have inspired not only me but many others as well.

In Russia nearly 4 million visited your recent exhibition. Explain this phenomenon.My exhibitions have always generated a great deal of interest

and attracted a large number of people. Two summers ago, my work was exhibited in the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes, Greece and two million people visited the exhibition, which was extended due to popular demand. I believe as I exhibit around the world more and more people are becoming familiar with my work and are interested in seeing it first-hand. My sculptures are unique and I believe people are curious about them and my exhi-bitions are becoming ever more popular. The Russians are very interested in art in many forms. They have an established tradi-tion of literature, opera, ballet, and all forms of artistic expression and they are a very sophisticated and discerning public in this realm and I could see they were very interested and were await-ing the exhibition with great anticipation. It is very gratifying as an artist when you feel this connection and communication with people.

The centerpiece and highlight of the exhibit is a new portrait inspired by Catherine the Great of Russia and presented for the first time on March 6th in St. Petersburg. This portrait, utilizing aluminum, is a natural progression and development of my work. I have used a mosaic-like technique for this portrait while includ-ing sculpture-like components. Aristotelis Karantis, curator of the exhibit, has said that “for the first time a portrait of Catherine the

Great has been created using aluminum and upon completion of the exhibition, this piece will be contributed for the permanent collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg”.

I have been very moved by the enthusiastic and warm recep-tion my work has received in Russia and have sent a personal note of thanks to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing my feelings of gratitude and the great honor I feel to have my work recognized and exhibited by these two very important and distin-guished national museums of Russia.

What is the most important thing you want to convey through your artwork?I believe that art is one of the strongest bridges between

peoples around the world, bringing together nations with the goal of uniting cultures and promoting understanding and cooperation. As a very proud Hellene, I also believe that our culture and art can serve as vital ambassadors of our Hellenic traditions around the world. Some of my future projects include a series of works inspired by the last imperial Russian family, the Romanov, com-missioned to commemorate the year of Hellenic-Russian Friend-ship planned for 2016. I am also working to complete works in aluminum inspired by the Parthenon Marbles, presently in the British Museum.

Pumps inspired by Maria Callas made of aluminum

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Using recycled aluminum beverage cans. Explain to the reader the hours spent to transform this into artwork.

The process is one I have created and patented and it is origi-nal. It is very meticulous and detailed and each sculpture re-quires a great deal of time and effort to complete. For example, the sculpture inspired by the wedding gown of Grace Kelly for her marriage to Prince Ranier took over two years to complete and required over 4000 cans, specifically Coca-Cola Light. The sculptures have taken anywhere from six months to several years to complete.

Your surrealistic pop-art creations have been exhibited around the world. Any chance of a Chicago exhibit in the near future?

My team and I are working on several exhibitions around the world in the near future. I would certainly be very honored to present my work in the wonderful museums of Chicago, espe-cially since Chicago has such a vibrant and dynamic Hellenic community.

Curator of the exhibition, Aristotelis Karantis and Nikos Floros

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ZIA|Gallery 548 Chestnut St. Winnetka, Il 60093 tel. 847-446-3970 www.ZIAgallery.net

ZIA Gallery is located 2 short blocks from the Winnetka Metra Station.

Iceland Inspired exhibition through April 26

Surf, archival photograph © John Vlahakis Cold Heat: Purple Mountains JJ’s Journey, acrylic and mixed media © Jonathan Ricci

Art & Literature

Art & Literature

In one article you mention that you draw great inspiration from Greece. Explain that.

The Hellenic ideals of beauty, harmony, truth and arete have inspired not only me and other artists but our entire civilization. These ideals, our history, our philosophic and cultural traditions are always in my heart and in my mind as I create

What does Greece need to restore itself amidst all the economic upheavals it

continues to face?Greece’s strengths have always been in the realm of ideas,

creativity, passion and energy and we have had the most influence around the world for our ideas and ideals, our culture and cre-ativity. Our values and ideas are what have sustained us through our long and often turbulent history and allowed us to not only survive the many crisis we have had to endure, but to ultimately overcome them but triumph. I am sure we will do so again.

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