Artist: Grigorios Ilaridis
Exhibition title: K Λ E O Σ
Venue: Base-Alpha, Antwerp, Belgium
Date: October 17 – November 23, 2024
Photography: ©We Document Art, all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Base-Alpha, Antwerp
Young Greco-Belgian artist Grigorios Ilaridis presents his debut solo exhibition, “ KΛEOΣ ” at Base-Alpha Gallery, following a year full of promising developments marked by his participation to Art Brussels, winning the prestigious Mark Macken Prize, and a notable groupshow at Cultuurhuis de Warande. In this exhibition, Ilaridis explores themes such as the hero’s journey, censorship in the arts, and the oral storytelling tradition of ancient Greece, all approached with a playful and often humorous touch.
The title “ KΛEOΣ ” (kleos) draws from ancient Greek word, symbolizing the glory and fame achieved through heroic deeds and immortalized through oral tradition. It represents the eternal legacy of actions and stories, celebrated and preserved through time.
His works emerge from a personal archive filled with photographs from travels, personal memories, art historical references and elements from pop culture. These images are combined into vibrant collages, which then serve as blueprints for layered sculptures crafted from materials like acrylic, bronze, metal, plaster, and wax. By merging two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements, Ilaridis creates a dialogue between the digital and the sculptural, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in their own interpretations.
In “ KΛEOΣ “, Ilaridis challenges contemporary censorship and celebrates the enduring influence of storytelling, drawing on narratives that are as relevant today as they were in antiquity. This exhibition is a testament to Ilaridis’ capacity to merge the personal with the universal, transforming historical themes into a compelling contemporary discourse.
