Elias Kasselas: Inner Landscapes

The art gallery Alma Mater (Emmanouil Benaki 62, Exarchia, Athens) presents a solo exhibition featuring the latest series of works by Elias Kasselas under the title “Interior Landscapes.” The exhibition is curated by Paris Kapralos.

This page serves as the online edition of the physical exhibition held at the aforementioned art gallery in Athens from December 13 to 22, 2024, and, following an extension, from January 8 to 19, 2025.

However, the online edition of the exhibition will conclude one month after the physical exhibition ends, remaining available until February 20, 2025.

Curatorial Note

The exhibition “Interior Landscapes” by Ilias Kasselas invites the viewer on a psychological and existential journey exploring the geography of the human soul. His works reveal multi-layered pathways of the subconscious, where symbols transform into architectural forms, rich in detail and meaning. The concept of the geometry of psychology, as analyzed by Gaston Bachelard, is introduced here as a theoretical approach, helping the viewer understand the relationship between the individual and space as a reflection of the deepest emotions and memories. Kasselas’s compositions, with their flow and constant transformation of forms, create landscapes that evoke a continuous, almost dreamlike movement. The artist’s technique is reminiscent of Hans Bellmer’s work, as the intensity of the distorted forms and the sense of bodily disorganization raise existential concerns, though it is not clear whether Kasselas was directly influenced by Bellmer. Simultaneously, the connection with Austin Osman Spare is also evident, with his distinctive approach to line and the esoteric symbols that permeate Kasselas’s artistic universe. His work is filled with psychoanalytic and mystical references, with images shifting between the real and the imaginary, challenging the viewer to embark on a journey of self-discovery. The intricate details in the works function as gateways to a deeply emotional and multilayered world, where the line is alive, organic, and constantly evolving. The “Interior Landscapes” are not limited to visual narratives but develop a complex dialogue with human psychology. The meticulous detail and commitment to linear storytelling highlight the artist’s pursuit of uncovering the inner geography of the human soul, weaving his personal mythology into contemporary art. This remarkable coexistence of forms and dreams, emerging as if from an unfathomable psychic ocean, serves as an invitation for deeper reflection and interpretation, connecting the individual with the most hidden expanses of their self. Thus, Kasselas’s works become a medium for introspection, proposing an intangible yet profound space for discovery.

–Paris Kapralos, Art Curator December 2024, Athens

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Artist's Statement

The way I work incorporates the coexistence of automatic painting with a more targeted and conscious design approach. Each piece emerges from a balance between free gesture and structured composition. Chaotic forms are transformed into organized representations, while conventional shapes yield to the metamorphoses of imagination, flowing as they are destined to. For me, automatic writing is primarily a technique and a source of inspiration rather than a routine of mystical self-indulgence. My experiments have revealed that, with the right technique and terminology, we can access collective landscapes of consciousness. I now focus more on the composition and “architecture” of the work, striving for balance, even if it emerges from chaos. In this way, I continue my quest to create images that unite the paradoxical with the familiar.

Exhibition with physical presentation of works in Athens

The exhibition runs from December 13 to 22, 2024, and will also be available online through our platform for one month. On the last day of the physical exhibition in Athens, Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 7:30 PM, a finissage event will take place, featuring a guided tour and a dialogue between the curator and the artist with the art-loving audience.

A catalog for the exhibition has been published in both Greek and English, available for free to all visitors. You can view and download it from HERE.

Hours / Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. On other days, visits are by appointment only at 6972445353. Admission is free.

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Short Biography of Ilias Kasselas

Elias Kasselas is a painter. Born in 1988, he lives and works in Corinth and, in recent years, splits his time between his hometown and Athens, where he maintains a studio. He is a graduate of the School of Fine and Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia, based in Florina. During his studies, he attended the Multimedia Workshop for one year under Vasilis Bouzas and then the Second Painting Workshop under Yiannis Kastritsis, from which he graduated in 2011. Since then, he has participated in selected group exhibitions and has presented his work in two solo exhibitions in Athens. Elias Kasselas has worked in animation, illustrated books, and created paintings that adorn book covers in Greece and abroad. He also designs comics and participates in related festivals and activities in Greece. Alongside his painting practice, he teaches drawing and prepares candidates for entrance exams to Fine Arts Schools. His artworks are part of distinguished private collections. Since January 2019, Elias Kasselas has collaborated with the visual artist collective ARC – Art Revisited Collective.

About the curator

Paris Kapralos is a Visual Arts Curator, Founder & Coordinator of the ARC – Art Revisited Collective, and co-editor of Arts & Antiques CCR. He was born in 1975 and raised in Athens. From 2008 to 2022, he resided in Northern Greece. He studied Economics (Athens) and Graphic Arts (Staffordshire, England). He worked as a journalist specializing in Technology for financial newspapers, magazines, and electronic news agencies (1999–2006), as an Organizational Manager and executive in the planning of business conferences in the IT & Telecommunications sector. In 2011, he shifted his career path toward the Art field. Since 2018, he has worked as an independent Organizer and Curator of art exhibitions and events. He served as a representative of the Greek Chapter of the International Watercolor Society (IWS) from 2019 to 2022. In October 2022, he assumed the position of Development Director at ARTgrID alongside his other activities. Over the years, he has curated and organized more than 200 exhibitions, art actions, projects, and participations both in Greece and internationally. For more detailed information, visit his website HERE.