Athens Voice - Greece
Nicholas Kontaxis: The Panathenaic Stadium transformed into a canvas for contemporary art
His work “Yes I Can” was projected across the stadium to mark the opening of his exhibition “Catch Me”.
By Niki Maria Koskina
Nicholas Kontaxis does not speak but communicates through his art through canvases overflowing with color and intensity. A child who has suffered from seizures since he was fifteen months old found refuge in painting. Using whatever materials he could reach, he began creating works and “speaking” through them. These works are now being shown in Greece for the first time at the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation Museum in the exhibition Catch Me, which opened on March 19. As part of the opening events, the Panathenaic Stadium was illuminated for the first time by a work of art.
For the first time in history, the Panathenaic Stadium was transformed into a living canvas of contemporary art. The venue flooded with color and hope, sending a powerful message of inspiration and inclusion through the work bearing the optimistic title Yes I Can. It was impossible for the audience to remain unmoved by this striking moment especially considering the conditions under which Nicholas Kontaxis creates, having experienced more than 75,000 seizures. The artist turns his seizures into art through large scale works, reminding us of the strength found in creativity and expression. It is no coincidence that he is considered one of the most promising artists of his generation and has been included in Forbes’ “Under 30” list of leading talents. His paintings are defined by an impressive sense of “structured chaos”.
As his mother, Krisann Kontaxis, mentioned in her recent interview with Athens Voice, “My son experimented with whatever materials he could find. Spices, coffee, oil, even ash. Anything he discovered around him. His seizures shattered him and learning to work ‘on the ground’ where he had fallen was one of the most important parts of his journey. Art cared for him. It told him that it didn’t matter that he had fallen and that it was there for him.”
Therefore, the illumination of the Panathenaic Stadium with this specific work by Nicholas Kontaxis marked a historic moment for Athens, bringing together art, culture and historical heritage in a way never seen before.