- Mike Petrakis
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Mike (Michail) Petrakis (born 22 August 1975), is a European – Greek artist.
Mike Petrakis at his studio in 2010
He is a contemporary artist. His art – philosophy is characterized by secret gems and mind teasers, also to react to all the pre-established cultural images – icons and to recycle them in such a way in order to change their utility and valor, towards all people. Petrakis’s artistic expression has multilingual, multicultural extensions and diachronic values, with hints on modern concerns affecting our future, through the position of humanity across our existence, connected with our reaction – attitude – treatment to nature and technology…
His philosophy is that “Art should appeal to a wide audience of all social tiers; should be seen by as many people as possible in order to form part of the cultural discourse of a society. My mission isn’t to cynically trash the whole of society along with its signs and symbolism" instead, he manages to reopen the debate on the associations we sometimes automatically make with various cultural icons.
The aim of his art - philosophy, is to react to all the pre-established cultural images – icons and to recycle them in such a way in order to change their utility and valor, towards all people.
'POP CORN' artwork created in 2003Early Period 2001- 2009 Mike Petrakis’s early works expresses the different beliefs of all personalities and social tiers, revealing the other dimension of the meanings, of the objects, icons and the words. This unique, innovative art recharges any particular semiology and conveys a smart, useful message by playing with an ironic disposition and always with the configurations and works which are affected by the mass-pop culture.
In 2003 his creations were the object of the graduation essay of an undergraduate of the History of Art at the National Technical University of Athens.
In 2007 The English magazine 'Dazed & Confused' published his work of 'POP CORN' art, in its April 2007 issue, as one of the four winners of the competition 'Make Art, Make Fun Of Art' which was conducted by the electronic site www.freedm2.com. Also, all four pieces of artwork were printed on giant posters of Brooklyn’s in New York and San Francisco.
'PAINt' created in 20112010 – His work has become more anthropocentric, keeping its philosophy and emphasize to 4 'lines'
-The inundation of 'lifestyle'.
-People's collision with hismself/herself and with the others.
-Our escape from the nature.
-People's collision with technology evolution.
Creating more in large scales artworks, through, paintings, installations, Neon lights, sculptures.
References —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Monitors Spare our Light...Monitors Scare our WightSolo shows:
January 2011 – February 2012 'PeopleOnProduce 2' at ‘The Lab of Williamsburg Gallery’, (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
December 2011 – January 2012 'PeopleOnProduce' at '55 Mercer - M55 ART', (NY, USA) and ‘The Secret Theatre’(NY, USA)
August 2011 'Past - PresentOnProgress' at 'Polytechno' (Corfu, Greece)
November 2004 ‘’Merry POPpins’’ at Gallery Café (Athens, Greece)
May 2004 "PO Po All the World" at AshInArt (Athens, Greece)
April 2004 "POP POURI" at Floraki Art Gallery (Piraeus, Greece)
March 2002 "GO CreationART" at Club 22 (Athens, Greece)
Group shows:
August 2002 "Untitled" at Corfu, Greece
May 2001 "POP GANGSTARS" at Gallery AKTO (Athens, Greece)
March 2001 "Once you POP you just can’t STOP" at Club Plan B (Athens, Greece)
Links —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Ofiicial website: www.mikepetrakis.com
Official blog: www.mikepetrakis.com/blog
Official Myspace page: www.myspace.com/mikepetrakis
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mike_petrakis
Category:Art, Contemporary Art
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