TrueMed - Greece
Art as the voice of the individual and our role as listeners
By Mpatsari Eleni
Art is not merely color on canvas, nor just shapes and textures. It is a means of expression, it is a language. And for some individuals, it is the only language they have to communicate with the world. This is powerfully and movingly captured in Nicholas Kontaxis’ exhibition “Catch Me”, hosted at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation.
The Greek-American artist, born with a brain tumor and having endured thousands of epileptic seizures since just 15 months old, inspires through his painting.
His mother, who has stood by him throughout his ongoing journey, poignantly stated:
“Nicholas cannot speak with words, but through his artwork he says what words often fail to express. His seizures are a reminder of everything he cannot control. But his art is how he takes that control back.”
Nicholas’s story reminds us that people living with chronic and/or neurological conditions are not defined by their diagnoses. They are individuals with desires, dreams, needs, and talents. Too often, the medical system places them in a framework of passivity, seeing them only as recipients of care. The term “patient” is frequently accompanied by clinical data, diagnoses, and treatment plans. But behind every diagnosis lies a human being with a unique story, a daily life filled with challenges, and a deep desire to live.
As healthcare professionals, our approach should be grounded in collaboration and understanding — to see the person beyond the illness, and to encourage them to express themselves in any way they can.
Empathy in the medical community should not be a luxury — it must be a fundamental necessity.
The “Catch Me” exhibition is also a powerful example of how art can become part of the healing process. In many countries, art therapy is now a recognized approach for individuals with neurological conditions, disabilities, or chronic illnesses. In Greece, such initiatives are still limited, but Nicholas’s story shows that it is well worth integrating more creative methods into healthcare.
The title of the exhibition, “Catch Me”, is both an invitation and a challenge. “Catch me, see me, recognize me” — that is the message Nicholas’s art sends. As a child, “Catch me” was the phrase he used before every epileptic seizure. Today, it becomes a call to “be there when someone looks your way, to keep your ears open to their silent voice.”
In the exhibition space, among Nicholas Kontaxis’ vibrant, almost explosive works, stands one object unlike the others: a trampoline. Not just a visual element, but a charged symbol of life and struggle. Once a tool for rescue used by firefighters, the trampoline — in Nicholas’s hands — becomes a symbol of resilience, of persistence during moments of “free fall.”
It marks the shift from “I’m falling” to “I choose to fly with whatever I have.”