| Art is open and universal by definition, a co-creator in all aspects of our life. |
Vassilis Moralis
Jewels of expression
Text: Marni Hatziemmanouil
Tiptoeing on edges where life is interwoven with art and rebaptizing the past into the molds of the future, jewel designer Vassilis Moralis transforms the deafening silence of matter into forms of art cherished both in Greece, where he lives and works, and the four corners of the planet. His art has traveled to England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Canada and Australia, leaving its trademark trace of avant-garde air, bringing together in a state of absolute coexistence antiquity, tradition, mythology and nature.
His genuine expression, having walked down many inner pathways, stands out with its elegance and truthfulness. “All of my works are hand-made and single pieces, using humble tools such as pliers and pincers. The rest comes straight from my heart, its beats, the rhythm to which it drums and vibrates every time I shape a formless mass, breathing life into it.”
Vassilis Moralis has been designing jewels ever since 1990, while in 2018 he founded Vassilis Moralis Handmade Jewelry, constantly enriching its collection with up-to-date creations. “I got hooked on this passion as a child, as I snatched every chance I got to express my inner world. In the first years of elementary school I turned to art, striving to represent everything I felt inside of me, as well as anything that “spoke” to me in my surroundings, using every available material that I could carve and give shape to. Over the years this need of mine grew bigger and bigger, gradually leading to the creation of elaborate hand-made jewels, whose form I keep reinventing – each different from the previous one – placing emphasis on the uniqueness I wish to endow them with.
In 2013 Vassilis Moralis was diagnosed with a rare inherited condition, Wilson’s disease. He was no longer permitted to use heavy metals and that’s when he discovered aluminum, as well as voluminous constructions, showcased at prestigious galleries in Greece, such as the Kalfayan Galleries, and in well-known magazines, such as Vogue Greece. As time went by, big-size constructions passed the baton to smaller ones, broadening the size gamut of the objects and the jewels he created. “One can easily discern that Greece is a source of inspiration for me, as my art converses with Greek culture, bringing antiquity, tradition and mythology into the foreground. Our country and the Mediterranean – the land of God as I perceive it, in the middle of the Earth as the etymology of the word suggests – are bound to be generous and unstinting towards their people.
Όλα μου τα έργα είναι χειροποίητα, το καθένα μοναδικό, φτιαγμένα με ένα πενσάκι κι ένα ταναλάκι. Όλα τα υπόλοιπα είναι η καρδιά μου, οι χτύποι της, ο ρυθμός με τον οποίο πάλλεται κάθε φορά που έχω στα χέρια μου μια άμορφη μάζα στην οποία δίνω σχήμα και πνοή ώστε να αποκτήσει τη δική της ζωή.
Vassilis Moralis made his first steps as a visual artist through collective and individual exhibitions. “Being diagnosed with this disease brought me into contact with aluminum, our century’s metal, but also with my inner self, with whom I have been communicating ever since, having apprehended deeper human concepts and attributing the utmost importance to the fellow human being. I often wonder how a different type of society would play out, a society based on love and freed from all hurtful elements. My viewpoint is that anything that bears heavily the mark of ego has dramatically failed. That’s why I make sure my works remain open to the feeling, have a redemptive effect on the soul and adopt a universal spirit. To touch anyone who gets close to them.”
A graduate of the Fine Arts Faculty (AUTh’s School of Film) and after having studied jewel design and crafting, he forged his own singular identity. In 2018 he was commissioned to design the award bestowed at the 1st Olympic Run Thessaloniki hosted by the Thessaloniki Olympic Museum. “I have allowed myself to break free from norms. To create away from rules, dos and don’ts, and patterns. Everything life has taught me led me to fascinating journeys. Through life’s adventures and the process of creation I chose to be a good man and not a nice kid. I think this principle is also reflected in my art. I don’t care for my work to be praised or sold. The purpose is to express my own feelings.”
Vassilis Moralis’ collections, a true synonym of modern-day elegance and avant-garde aesthetic, are showcased at Nu Modern Greek, in Nikis Avenue, Thessaloniki. According to owner Vassilis Ladas “visitors value Vassilis’ signature style, which ties in with the exhibition space. His hand-made jewels have an appeal to a wider audience on a worldwide scale. The spiral, which alludes to a beginning with no end, the meander, the sun, the ruffles of the statues, all these symbols and traits serve as creative triggers for the artist.” At the same time, Vassilis Moralis points out: “There’s only a handful of venues in Thessaloniki to host the work of artists, whereas in the name of the profit all essence is missed out. Several talented Greek artists gain acceptance in their own country only after having made a name for themselves abroad.”
Vassilis Moralis believes that hardships in life can only be coped with through wise choices, and this life stance is also portrayed in his jewels. Colors, motifs, incongruous forms, overflowing with imagination, each bearing its own singular touch. Heartfelt, personal, unique, resilient in time, and not having undergone any chemical process, they emit a “green” ecological imprint, uniting their truth with a protest voice on the environment.
Wrapping up this interview, Vassilis Moralis speaks of his faith, which he treasures as a gift of life. “He was crucified and he was resurrected. He made a breakthrough. He showed us a different model upon which we should base our lives. I am fully aware that if I’m incapable of forgiving myself, I will find it hard to forgive my fellow human being. Like a mother who’s out there only for the sake of her children; this divine sacredness a mother feels for her child. Art is open and universal by definition, a co-creator in all aspects of our life.”
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