PRESS RELEASE
November 27, 2014
EXHIBITION OF SCULPTURED PAINTINGS BY NIKOS FLOROS DEDICATED TO DOMENIKOS THEOTOKOPOULOS (EL GRECO) AT CATHEDRAL MUSEUM OF ST. ISAAK, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
From December 3, 2014 through January 15, 2014 Russia will again welcome the internationally recognized sculptor, Nikos Floros for the celebration commemorating the 400 year anniversary of the death of the Hellenic painter, Domenikos Theotokopoulos (el Greco). One of the largest and most significant museums, the State Museum of St. Isaak Cathedral in St. Petersburg will host the exhibition of new works by the world renown Hellenic sculptor, Nikos Floros beginning with the opening reception on December 3, 2014.
A great honor for any artist and especially significant because Mr. Floros is the first artist of Hellenic descent to be invited to present at this historic Cathedral located in the center of St. Petersburg. One of the most significant museums in Russia, the Cathedral of St. Isask is recognized around the world and receives millions of visitors each month surpassing even the very famous Hermitage Museum.
Nikos Floros, a recognized sculptor, has received many awards and recognitions around the world for his creative artwork. For this exhibition, he has created two works inspired by paintings of El Greco; Nikos Floros utilizes a very modern material, recycled aluminum (specifically aluminum beverage cans) and with unusual creativity, produces original and exceptional works of art. The result is noteworthy and spectacular, exhibiting explosive dramatic density, expressiveness and radiance. With great reverence, Mr. Floros, interprets the geometric stylization and colors of Theotokopoulos while utilizing his own unique style. In this way, a dialectic relationship develops between the creations of the artists as well as the artworks themselves and the public. The sculptor created two incomparably beautiful mosaics of monumental proportions made out of more than 10,000 aluminum cans. Maintaining the otherworldly, transcendent and mysterious character of the works of El Greco, while achieving the impression of a painting.
Utilizing a unique technique created by Mr. Floros, he uses tiny mosaics of recycled aluminum to reinterpret two major and well-known works of Domeniko Theotokopoulos, “The Disrobing of Christ” and “The Resurrection of Christ”. Mr. Floros transforms a common everyday material such as aluminum, which characterizes our modern life, into something surpassing our imagination.
Nikos Floros commented that the invitation he received from Russia to commerate the 400 year anniversary of the death of this most significant Hellenic painter, Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) was a great honor but also a great challenge since these sculptural paintings honor El Greco while also expressing a great respect and reverence toward the image of Jesus Christ.
This is the first time that works of El Greco are reinterpreted through the lens of surrealism and popart, utilizing a very modern material such as aluminum, specifically recycled aluminum beverage cans. Thousands of pieces of aluminum were transformed by Nikos Floros into spectacular sculptural mosaics of immense proportions while respectfully interpreting the colors and shapes of this most famous and distinguished painter.
This particular exhibition follows two previous very successful exhibitions by Nikos Floros in Russia. The first was a very successful six-month retrospective exhibition at the Tsaritsyno State Museum and Reserve in Moscow in 2013-2014. This was followed by another very successful exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia from March to April 2014. These exhibitions were presented under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture of the Hellenic Republic as well as the Ministry of Culture of Russia. These exhibitions were exceptional and extremely well received by the discerning, culture-loving people of Russia as well as by President Vladimir Putin himself, and were attended by the millions of visitors. The exclusive curator of Nikos Floros’ exhibitions in Russia as well as many other areas around the world is Aristotelis Karantis. Mr. Floros’ exhibitions in Russia were organized by Ms. Julia Sysalova and his exclusive photographer in Russia as well as other locations around the world is Ilias Diamantakos.
Culture and art are very strong bridges uniting peoples across the globe. This exhibition, as well as the two previous ones in Russia, support and strengthen the already strong spirit of Hellenic-Russian friendship which will culminate in the year of Hellenic-Russian friendship during 2016.
The opening reception of the exhibition at the State Museum of St. Isaak Cathedral will be held on December 3, 2014 and will be open until January 15, 2015. The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Education and Religion and the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Hellenic Republic and the Consulate General of the Hellenic Republic in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Nikos Floros has received world-wide recognition and awards for his artwork as well as extensive coverage by world-wide press including Itar-Tass, Fashion TV, Reuters BBC, SkyNews, ABC News, New York Times. Vogue, W, Associated Press, La Republica, International Wall Street Journal, Getty Images and many other news and television media around the world.
The artwork of Nikos Floros has been exhibited around the world including The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C., USA; Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria; Whitney Museum of American Art, NY, NY,: Metropolitan Club, NY, NY; Archeological Museum, Thessaloniki, Greece; Megaro Mela, National Bank of Greece, Athens, Greece; Palace of the Grand Master, Rhodes, Greece. He has received awards for his contribution to the arts from Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute for his “Red Elizabeth”; First Prize by the French Heritage Society for Silver Elizabeth I; the Golden Medal of Arts and Sciences from the Albert Schweitzer Foundation in Vienna, Austria and the Innovation Award presented by the Global Thinkers Forum in Athens, Greece. In addition, his artwork was included in the curriculum of the Brazilian Educational System.