Interview
Aristotelis Deligiannidis
Born in 1984 in Kavala, Greece, Aristotelis still lives and works in his home city. He studied Mathematics at the University of Ioannina, Greece from 2001-2004.
The work he creates is his own nonverbal reaction to everything that is happening around him - the energies that are being felt and released are transformed into spontaneous movements on canvas. On a daily basis, he actively engages in many different actions, routines and exercises in order to physically, emotionally and mentally prepare himself to create his paintings. Aristotelis has participated in biennales and large scale exhibitions in Greece and abroad. He creates works on paper with markers and felt-tip pens, painting installations, canvases, artists’ books and multiples. Since 2010, his work “LAYERS” has been in permanent exhibition at the Blue Moon area of Lido island, Venice.
What is your name and background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My name is Aristotelis Deligiannidis, I have studied mathematics at the University of Ioanina, Greece and my journey began in my teens through graffiti, murals and calligraphy.”
What inspires you most?
“What inspires me the most is the energy of movement. I love swimming, walking and meditating in beautiful places. Exploration of the inner positive feelings for and expression of oneself is what drives me the most.”
What themes do you pursue? And is there an underlying message in your work?
“I pursue the artistic expression of movement though action painting. I draw the universal energy that motivates me to live in peace, with great uplifting and positive feelings. If there is any message underlying my work, then that would be through calligraphy words like wish, blessings, praying, peace, etc.”
What is your creative process like?
“I would describe my work as revolutionary, because there is a strong movement inside towards every direction. I experiment and play with gravities of the material in several ways. I play like a kid with colors, producing abstract feeling landscapes in this way.
Also, I use calligraphy to express the human motion inside the universe, with strong lines and technique.”
“My art is the confession of my soul. My works are nothing else but traces of my own personal truth.”
Which artists influence you most?
“New York street artists, all muralists, calligraphers and landscape painters. Practically all kinds of artists with a positive outlook, who have used their life experience to leave an artistic view of light, freedom and peace, filtered by their creativity.”
Could you tell us more about your creative process?
“My creative process starts with walking for hours, swimming, practicing kung fu and meditating. Then I express the light and positive feelings I have found through these processes.”
What materials and techniques do you use when creating?
“After I hang a large canvas up against the wall, all sprays, acrylics, oils and every color and material that exists in any form could be in my playlist, so to speak.
Any brush, fabric, spray, charcoal or any other material can be used as an extension of my body and emotion, leaving their traces on the canvas.”
What is your favorite artwork and why?
“My favorite artwork is ‘DEISIS’, meaning prayer. It is an abstract approach of a human being praying to God, next to pure energies of water and fire in order for enlightenment to come.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“It is my belief that an artist’s role is to give life and positive energy to society by using his or her creativity and love for true expression through art and colors. To help others find true meaning in life, including aspects like peace, love, positive energy and creativity. An artist, through his work, should touch and motivate human souls.”
Website: www.aristotelisd.com
