Vassilis H Interview
Athens based artist Vassilis H. creates works that consist of paintings and sculpture which reference and celebrate the morphological elements of the architectural movements from the 20th century. With a focused interest in the Bauhaus and Constructivism movements, Vassilis aims to bridge the past with the present by starting a dialog between modernist movements, contemporary culture and our storied history. His work is not about mourning a shattered utopian ideal, the sculptures and paintings reflect a darker, more indulgent vision that awakens an uncomfortable grit within – affirming the absence and celebrating it at the same time.
me: Your work lives somewhere between formalist and modernist art. Where do you think you belong?
Vassilis H: I am a contemporary artist, whose work is influenced by several art movements, mainly Modernism. Form is simply the outcome.
me: You often reference typologies of 20th century architectural movements, with nods to Bauhaus, Constructivism and de Stijl movements. What interests you most about those historical movements?
Vassilis H: Those movements were born during an intense, turbulent period in history. They were radical. Their aim was to bring about change. They brought tangible answers and solutions to problems through architecture, art, design, fashion, literature and cinema. In Greece, on one hand, the presence of Modernism has been minor and mostly superficial and I strongly believe it contributed to what we call contemporary Greek culture and aesthetics. Today, on the other hand, there is an intense need to redefine our culture. An intense need to bring radical change, as Modernism did almost a century ago.
me: In your first solo show Iconomachia, you transformed religious iconography into contemporary works of art. Some of the pieces were described as “deformed”. You were referencing the sectarian war and the imagery that contributed to the divisions between the churches, yet you weren’t comfortable making this statement in your homeland of Greece. Why did you choose New York to show this exhibition instead of the place of its origin?
Vassilis H: At that time it was hard, almost dangerous to show Iconomachia in my country. Today, it seems forbidden. As the economic crisis grows, so does the fundamentalism. Religion is a very sensitive matter here and no one is willing to risk their neck over a young artist. In NY, you could see this work through a distance, without being emotionally involved. You could see it as art, not as blasphemy. It felt right to show this work in NY.
me: Through your work, it seems as though you’re attempting to redefine history, in your unique way. What is it you’re hoping to achieve from producing and showing your art?
Vassilis H: Modernism in our days tends to be more a collection of forms, deprived of its theoretical background. By referring to, not reproducing Modernism through my work, I am hoping to evoke questions to my viewers about contemporary reality, a rough reality that resembles that of the beginning of the 20thcentury
me: It’s been said that you create artwork that bridges the “culturally rich modernist past with the vagueness and ambiguity of today.” Do you feel our current culture is lacking a certain “cultural richness”?
Vassilis H: No, on the contrary. Our culture is rich in terms of both quantity and quality. What our culture is lacking is critical thinking and methodology, in terms of production and consumption.
me: What gets you out of bed in the morning and what drives you to create?
Vassilis H: The past 14 months, my daughter. What drives me to create is my belief that this is what I do best.
me: What are you currently working on?
Vassilis H: After an intense period of two solos in Athens and in Vienna, and a few group shows, I feel the urge to work on my garden.