Graffiti is the voice of the masses, a way to break the rules or loudly proclaim a fact or a general dissatisfaction.
Observed in various forms for millions of years, graffiti has always been a medium for expression and large-scale protest. The debate over whether graffiti is an art form or an act of vandalism has existed forever.
Who is right and who is wrong ? While graffiti has long earned recognition in certain circles, particularly in the art world, some critics still argue that it is an illegal act, a blight on society! However, these artists play a key role in freedom of expression.
Thessaloniki, a city with a history of activism, is home to numerous politically and socially charged graffiti pieces. Graffiti in Greece fluctuates between illegality and growing recognition as an urban art form. While it can still be repressed in unauthorized spaces, local initiatives and festivals increasingly encourage artists to express themselves legally, helping turn the city into a living museum of street art.
Toss Gallery is an exhibition space in Thessaloniki, Vilara 1, on the upper floor of La Doze bar, in the area of Valaoritu. This bar and the surrounding area are relatively popular with a young and dynamic population.
INTERVIEW of John Patelias @johnpatelias
Toss Gallery, Vilara 1, La Doze Bar
Saturday 1st of february, we interviewed the curator of Toss Gallery about the exhibition Re Charge! John Patelias is an illustrator and street artist in Thessaloniki. We met him to learn more about the exhibition he is organizing and his point of view on graffiti and urban art in Greece.
The “Re:Charge!” exhibition at Toss Gallery, is 21 renowned Greek artists reimagine the poster as an artistic object. Through various techniques such as graffiti, street art, illustration, and graphic design, their works highlight the freshness, disruptive nature, and dynamic spirit of contemporary art.
- What kind of public comes to this exhibition ? How do they react ?
Mostly it’s young people, because it’s a young art, in Vilara street, in the bar area, and there are a lot of young people going there.
This place has the unique ability to be also a bar, so a lot of people that come out to the bar to drink a cocktail or have a beer, have the chance to also visit the exhibition so everyone as a client of the bar is an attendant of the gallery !
Outside of the bar, as a gallery, we have a lot of people that care about that and are focused about that, they look at our events and they visit us. We have built a trust with the crowd that our exhibitions are of some level, so people trust us enough, always wanting to see our proposals.
- The exhibition showcases 21 artworks using various techniques, from graffiti to graphic design. Why did you choose these particular forms of expression ? Do you think they are especially effective in conveying protest or a critical perspective on society ?
The selection was made because it’s my field of focus as a street artist and graffiti artist and an illustrator. I think all this kind of artwork connects to each other, they are parallel, a street artist is an illustrator and also a graphic designer, so it’s like a common field. I feel very close to this kind of scene and I wanted to showcase this kind of person, this kind of artist to this gallery. We always had this kind of focus, we always showcased graffiti and street art. This is also a small representation of what is going on in Greece.
- Greece has a long tradition of politically engaged street art, particularly since the economic crisis and social movements. How does this exhibition fit into that legacy ? What connection do you see between the featured works and the country’s current socio-political situation ?
All the guys here are from the hardcore graffiti scene so they are doing a lot of illegal painting in abandoned places, in abandoned buildings, a lot of things like that.
Look, we have a revolutionary artist in this exhibition,Tasmar Cartoonist @tasmar_cartoonist is one of the most political comic artists of Greece. He always has declared a political point, his comics are also a lot of politically inspired. Not all artists are into politics but graffiti and street art, if it goes on the illegal territory, it has a protest inside of it, in the made thought, graffiti is protest.
- And the people who are doing this in the street, in the illegal way, how do they manage it with the authorities, with the police ?
In Greece it’s not so difficult to do tags, as you see in Thessaloniki everything is painted, it’s also in Athens. Athens is called the capital of street art for some years now, because it’s so easy. Nobody is gonna tell you nothing even the police.
- Thessaloniki has a strong history of political and activist movements. What role does the city play in Greece’s street art scene today ? How does it differ from Athens or other cities in the country ?
In Athens, is more organized. The political graffiti movement it’s more organized in Athens because there are a lot of motives and there is more communication between people who take actions. Thessaloniki, as the second biggest city in Greece, has some activists but it is not something that will characterise the city. In Athens it’s more planned.
- Street art is often seen as a form of protest and an ephemeral art. However, displaying it in a gallery raises questions about its legitimacy and longevity. How do you navigate the tension between street art and institutional spaces ?
Urban art and street art has infiltrated the art scenery and museum for some years now. It has been a knowledge as an art so, since, it’s the most alive art right now, it’s the most powerful and it has the strongest message. You won’t see strong messages in some paintings, but you will see them on a mural or in some walls. Walls don’t lie !
A lot of graffiti writers think graffiti doesn’t belong to a gallery but if a curator fixes it in a gallery and artists agree I don’t see why you’re gonna go this way.
- Finally, what impact do you hope “Re:Charge!” will have on the public ? Do you believe art can truly be a driver of social change ?
People that visited the exhibition weren’t really expecting this powerful artworks here. My statement for Re Charge it’s because it’s my first month in the gallery as a curator. I wanted to communicate that the place is back, we are back and we’re back with a strong group exhibition from fresh artists to fresh people !
Pictures : Joanne Santier @joannesntr
