BIO / CV

 

Born                                                                               1990 in Athens, Greece.

Lives                                                                                     Chaidari, Athens.

Education                                                                           B.F.A Athens School of fine Arts (A.S.F.A)                     M.F.A School of visual Arts (S.V.A)

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ΒΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟ ΣΗΜΕΙΩΜΑ

Γεννήθηκε το 1990 στην Αθήνα.

Παρακολουθούσε μαθήματα υποκριτικής στο εφηβικό εργαστήρι του Εθνικού Θεάτρου (1997-2002, 2009-2010).

Από το 2010 μέχρι το 2015  σπούδαζε ζωγραφική στην Ανωτάτη Σχολή Καλών Τεχνών.

 Μέσα από τη ζωγραφική, τις γλυπτικές εγκαταστάσεις το βίντεο και την performance, προσεγγίζει το ερωτικό στοιχείο και τη σχέση μας με τον εαυτό μας και με το άλλο φύλο. Τα έργα του αποτυπώνουν την πολυδιάστατη επαφή που έχουμε με τα έμψυχα (σώματα) ή άψυχα στοιχεία που μας περιβάλλουν, είτε είναι φυσική, εμπορική, ή και ερωτική. Η αμεσότητα της αποτύπωσης ανθρώπινων μελών, μας προτρέπει να απεγκλωβιστούμε από τον φόβο του σώματος και της σωματικότητας μας.  Το μεγαλύτερο μέρος των συμμετοχών του σε εκθέσεις, φεστιβάλ ψηφιακών μέσων και performance, χαρακτηρίζεται από την έρευνα και αποτύπωση του σώματος ως εργαλείο πυροδότησης της ερωτικής αυτογνωσίας (self awareness).

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CURRICULUM VITAE 

Kostas Lales was born in 1990 in Athens.

He attended acting classes at teenage workshop of the National Theatre (1997-2002, 2009-2010).

From 2010 until 2015, he studed painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts.

Through painting, sculptural installations, video and performance, Kostas Lales addresses our relationship among self, and same / opposite gender, through eroticism. His work reflects the layered association we have with elements that surround us – whether this contact be physical, commercial, or erotic. The immediacy of human imprinting States, urges us to free ourselves from the fear of body and our physicality.
His participation in exhibitions, digital media festivals and performances, outline his research and illustration of the body as a device which stimulates erotic self awareness.
My art practice focuses on human beings and the connection of bodies. My work explores the unlimited possibilities of the body through the use of wax, plaster, styrofoam, wood, iron, drawing and digital collage. I see the body as a device that can stimulate erotic self-awareness if broken down to its parts and reconstructed as a new entity. I desire to understand in depth how two bodies function during their sexual connection.  Form is a very important aspect in my work. Through analysis and research, I am trying to create and delimit an amorphous relationship of objects. My goal is for a work that creates its own narrative based on my reality, but extends to the viewer’s as well.
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ARTIST STATEMENT :

The development of my work originates from humanitarian and environmental issues. I stay informed about the issues that concern me by reading and following the news. My art practice focuses on human beings and the interconnection between our bodies. The work explores the unlimited possibilities of the representation of the human form through the use of wax, plaster, styrofoam, wood, iron, drawing and digital collage. As an artist, I work hard to discover new aspects of my sculptures that speak both to me and to others about the meaning of life. The study of works of literature and philosophy such as Human Compatible by Stuart Russel, Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett, guides my imagination and nurtures my judgment.

For the last two years my work has been exploring the relationship between geometry and symbolism. The union of the two happens through the use of human body parts. Even since I was a teenager, I was fascinated by the human figure because I perceived it as the first moving image. The understanding of geometry starts from the senses and the examination of human evolution. When body, geometry and symbols become one the foundation of image and matter is autonomous and sacred. I create sculptural archetypes that present unique characteristics and have their own personalities. I am fascinated by the way time and environmental factors alter our skin and body shape and I am reflecting this transformation in my work.

                                                            “The brain-face.”   2019

                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                  

                                                – GROUP EXHIBITIONS –

2024   a) “Drawing Beyond the Surface” , LIC-A Art Space – The Factory, NY, Curator Jorge Posada and the LIC-A Exhibition Team

2023   a) “A show of heads”, Limner Gallery, Hudson, NY.

2022   a) “Pin Up”, iidrr Gallery, 162 Allen Street, NYC, Curated by Annie & Shuwan.

                        b) “LEPTOGEOS” at The European Center Athens, Curated by Euaggelia Kairaki.

                        c) “OUTRO : World-Building Within And Outside The Studio” at SVA galleries / Curated by Herb Tam / NY

                       d) “BLANC DAYS” / ARTZONE GALLERY 42 / Curated by Tzortzina Theou / GR

                        e) SVA Flatiron Gallery / Grasping Shards / Curated by Tyson Skross / NYC

                        f) Fokianou ArtSpace / Night in Athens / Curated by Panagiotis Boulgaris and Mary Cox / GR

2021    a) New Collectors Gallery / COCOON / New York City / Curated by: James Clark.

                         b) Back to Athens 8 / Sense In2uition / Curated by : Georg Georgakopoulos

                         c) Art Zone 42 Gallery / “FIGURA” /  Curated by : Vyrra Maria

2020    a) Art Athina / In the Name. / Apollonos 25 – Curated by : Georg Georgakopoulos

                          b) Back to Athens 7 / PostAthens / Curated by Fotini Kapiri

                          c) ARTvirusEARTH @ web exhibition | “The Pandemic of ART virus” (art-profiles.net)

2019    a) ” Love and Disaster in Athens ” |Fokianou Art Space, Pagrati.

                          b) 25th CHEAPART | CHEAPART Athens 2019

                          c) The ultimate surprise – Surprise X / The project Gallery.

2018 – “SOFTWAER” – OLD PAPER Warehouse. Curated by Alexandros Maganiotis

2017    a) “Life: Repetition and Overturn”,  OLD PAPER Warehouse. Curated by Stratis Pantazis

                        b) “VIOLENCE” / BACK TO ATHENS 5 / #backtoathens_exarchia, erresou.

                        c) Social Distortion | Less real more human…Social Distortion exhibition in Athens, is part of the Offspring Young Artists for the cultivation of new generation artistic practice. Artwall, GR

2016    a) “MAYA”  BACK TO ATHENS 4 / #backtoathens_exarchia, erresou. GR

2015    a) “Poetry and Picture ” in the Second International Poetry Festival. “Cultural Center of Time.” Curated by Lida Kazatzaki

                         b) Archive art: Visual situations- facilities, Artistic approach to the concept of file History file PIOP.
                         c) Fifth painting workshop ASFA-”Options 1” Fokionos Negri 16, Athens, GR
2014     a) Participation as a performer in the work of Georgia speaks, Lust-Nightmare, Gallery Armory Art.
                          b)  Art Factory Brickworks Nikolaou Spyridon & Tsalapatas, Volos, GR
                          c) Fifth painting workshop ASFA / “about plan” – Athens School of Fine Arts, GR
                          d) 7th Biennial of Students Schools of Fine Arts,Foundation Theocharakis, GR
2013     a) Participation in a performance of Dimitri Alithinos under the retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, GR
                          b) Art for Amnesty, Amnesty International along with the Fine Arts at Camp, GR
                          c) Video Art Festival Zero, Kalamata’s square, GR
                          d) Visual Trek, Municipality Aktio-Vonitsa, GR
2012     a) Victim-perpetrator,Slaughterhouses Taurus, Moshato, GR
               b) Participation in the competition “Love in the age of Social media”, Athens, GR
2010     a) In between project, Workshop with a group of students from the School of Fine Arts multimedia lab and the teacher in charge Manthos Santorineos, Gallery “About”, Athens, GR

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Collections   :                                                                The Sotiris Felios Collection, Athens.