The bestowal of the honorary distinctions MATAROA AWARDS for the fourth consecutive year, held on Saturday May 25th, called it a wrap for this year’s MATAROA 2024 | Visual Arts Awards, an institution that sprang from the collaboration between the Cultural Society and Art Thessaloniki-International Contemporary Art Fair, and within the framework of the MATAROA project for the promotion of contemporary artistic creation in Greece. A total of 100 artists responded to the open call launched this year, submitting proposals
that were evaluated by a five-member jury leading to the selection of the 10 artists who had the chance of showcasing their works in the context of the 7th Art-Thessaloniki Fair.

The First Award was bestowed to Konstantinos Xanthis, while Nikos Karakolis and Pavlos Kostilev received special mentions.

“The character of my works is crafted mainly through photos of old movies that I had watched in the past, selected in a way to compose a narrative that endows these representations with a whole new dimension. Part of this endeavor are the abstract films that surround the figures and allude to smokes, nebulas or waves,” says Nikos Karakolis. According to him, a certain ambiance is created this way, carrying the performance in an “airy and cryptic environment.” “My goal is to connect this part of the narrative with the evocation of nostalgic images from the subconscious. The viewer is called to contemplate on the feelings that emerge while looking at the work, but also to experience the feeling of reminiscing oozed by the images, which may very well reflect on their own experiences,” he points out.

As for the MATAROA AWARDS, here’s what he has to say: “It’s a top-notch institution that has a pivotal effect on the course of upcoming artists, offering them the chance to showcase their personal work. I am honored to take part, it was a truly unique experience for me, as my work reached out to the audience, setting off a productive dialogue with an exchange of views and ideas,” he notes.

“Through my painting I explore the human being as a multifaceted creature, intertwining the physical and the mental aspect. The figures I create are depicted either in a state of total calmness or within tormenting and brutal reality, unveiling the intricate nature of human existence, governed by inner conflicts and concerns. At the same time, a perverted erotic disposition prevails in the air, identified with death and loss, which expresses disgust and repulsiveness,” stresses Pavlos Kostiled, referring to his work.

“Through this harsh reality, sensualism evidently fades away. Combined with a trace of maternity, it comes into conflict and concurrently acquits mankind, which is constantly liberated within a solitude and repressed all at once. Through my art I seek to portray the complexity and the essence of human existence, paving the way for thoughts on an introspective dialogue on the role of human nature and the unexplored and convoluted world of the soul,” he explains. As for the MATAROA AWARDS, he shares his joy for taking part, showing his work for the first time to a wider audience. “I was given the chance to meet both upcoming and acclaimed artists, and conversing with them made me even happier than the positive remarks and comments. Winning the second special mention, I felt completed and satisfied, as my work was acknowledged, which is always a truly difficult task. I have set new goals and I view reality and the future with more optimism and certainty,” he concludes.

The list of the MATAROA AWARDS finalists, supported this year by Yorgos and Zoe Papageorgiou, also includes: Yorgos Georgiou, Yannis Efthymiou, Stefanos Zafeiriou, Katerina Karatzaferi, Vassiliki Pechlidou, Ismini Teligioridou, Thodoros Fragkos. The awards were handed out by Mr. Stavros Andreadis, President of the Cultural Society, Ms. Zoe Papageorgiou, Board Member of the Cultural Society, and Mr. Pantelis Tsatsis, Art Director of Art Thessaloniki.