Ashtray group exhibition at Zoumboulakis Gallery

Zoumboulakis Galleries present “astray”, a group show by Alexandros Vasmoulakis, Paris Koutsikos and Daniel Egneus, from the 8th November until the 8th December 2012.

The word astray depicted in its positive and negative senses. It is a story filtered through the eyes of three artists. Their intimate relation with places, memories, ideas and their search for love, protection and magic constantly lead them astray in contemporary Athens: A seductive city disguised in concrete, filled with stray individuals. Wanderers trying to find their identities.

Alexandros Vasmoulakis depicts women, questioning the existing image of the female icon of the 19th and 20th century and exploring the eternal game between male and female. His women are presented vivid and playful or even aggressive, giving the artist an escape towards liberty, joy of life, love and magic.

Alexandros Vasmoulakis was born in Athens in 1980 and studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts (2002-2007). He works as a freelancer and his works consist of indoor and outdoor paintings as well as outdoor installations.

Paris Koutsikos uses materials related to the glam aesthetic (shining fabrics, gold and aluminum leaves, gold dust, sequins) meaning to create -through collage techniques- works based on artistic typography. The way the words –pompous in principle- are imprinted – creates a contradiction with their meaning ̇ the viewer is thus pleasantly overthrown. Due to the nature of materials and the techniques used, the visual impression is differentiated and creates a game with the light.

Paris Koutsikos was born in Florence in 1967 and works in Athens as a graphic designer. He studied Visual Communication Design in Athens (AKTO) and in London (Middlesex University). He was responsible for the art direction of OXY Pbl. and from 2007 he experiments and communicates using graphic design as tool.

Daniel Egneus, the Swedish illustrator of the group, has lived in different cities and during the last year he has been living in Athens. He traces details like an exterior but persistent observer of the contemporary urban environment. Women are placed in the center of the two basic chapters of his works, made for “astray”. In the first group of works, women’s hats, inspired by stray city animals, accompany even more “stray” women. In the second group of works, women from Athens pose with designers’ clothes in their interiors. Finally, in the third group, the “pleasant chaos” of Athens and the “brutalist-styled” architecture of the city, “born already old” create mysterious images. Egneus presents his view on women and the Greek crisis using ink, acrylics, watercolors etc.

Daniel Egneus was born in Sweden in 1972. He has lived in many big cities. He was awarded as the Best Illustrator by the British Association of Illustrators (AOI) and has collaborated with big companies (Audi, Haagen-Dazs etc.). In 2012 he collaborated with the Athens Festival.

Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11.00-15.00 & 17.00–20.00 Wednesday 11.00–15.00 Saturday 11.00–14.00 Sunday & Monday closed