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GREAT GREEKS ABROAD
Vassilis Balaskas
Art SAnS FrontiErEs
Despite his young age, Bill Balaskas alreaDy has a significant career BehinD him, as
an artist of the worlD with a greek heart | Παρα το νεαρο της ηλικιας του, ο Bill Balaskas
εχει μια αξιοθαυμαςτη Πορεια και δηλώνει καλλιτεχνης του κοςμου με ελληνικη καρδια.
T his young artist from Thessaloniki was greece coulD not PhOTO BY DOMINIC TSChUDIN
selected at the age of 30, as one of the Be aBsent from the
4 most innovative young artists around suBjects i choose
the world (ALICE People’s Voice Awards η ελλαδα δε θα
2012), while his works have become known globally μΠορουςε να λειΠει
through his participation in international as well as αΠο τα θεματα
7 solo exhibitions in Greece, England, Turkey and Που εΠιλεγώ.
Germany in the space of just 3 years. London kept
him close with 4 scholarships from the Royal Col-
lege of Art, while in 2012 he represented the UK at
the Cultural Olympiad and at last year’s Eur. Cultural
Capital events in Maribor, Slovenia. While awaiting
the final results of the 2013 AUDI Art Award for the
most innovative young artist, Bill Balaskas speaks
about the evolution of art in Greece and his strong
ties with the home country.
How often are you in Greece?
I visit Greece at least two or three times a year for
a few weeks at a time to see my family and friends.
After London, which city would be your next stop?
Ρersonally, Istanbul and professionally, New York.
Artist with an international career or Greek art-
ist abroad?
The most appropriate – and demanding – reply would
be ‘Greek artist abroad with an international career’.
Do you feel an ambassador of Greek culture?
To answer that question, one must first of all have a
quite strict definition of what Greek culture is. It pre-
supposes a prevailing narrative which, afterwards,
that person will be called on to serve. I don’t per-
ceive culture through that kind of lens talking about
art and a culture that continues to evolve today.
Do you feel an inner need to promote your country?
I wouldn’t call it an ‘inner need’ but a natural conse-
quence of my identity. ‘Promotion’ has a useful and
positive role only to the extent that it gives meaning
to a work. In other words you become an ambas-
sador when, first of all, you do your work well, not
when something becomes an end in itself.
How often do your works contain Greek elements?
In recent years, quite frequently. For example, my
recent solo exhibition at Kalfayan Galleries in Ath-
ens had a quintessentially ‘Greek’ character, since
those works investigated the cultural causes of the
crisis that Greece is now going through. Μost of my
88
GREAT GREEKS ABROAD
Vassilis Balaskas
Art SAnS FrontiErEs
Despite his young age, Bill Balaskas alreaDy has a significant career BehinD him, as
an artist of the worlD with a greek heart | Παρα το νεαρο της ηλικιας του, ο Bill Balaskas
εχει μια αξιοθαυμαςτη Πορεια και δηλώνει καλλιτεχνης του κοςμου με ελληνικη καρδια.
T his young artist from Thessaloniki was greece coulD not PhOTO BY DOMINIC TSChUDIN
selected at the age of 30, as one of the Be aBsent from the
4 most innovative young artists around suBjects i choose
the world (ALICE People’s Voice Awards η ελλαδα δε θα
2012), while his works have become known globally μΠορουςε να λειΠει
through his participation in international as well as αΠο τα θεματα
7 solo exhibitions in Greece, England, Turkey and Που εΠιλεγώ.
Germany in the space of just 3 years. London kept
him close with 4 scholarships from the Royal Col-
lege of Art, while in 2012 he represented the UK at
the Cultural Olympiad and at last year’s Eur. Cultural
Capital events in Maribor, Slovenia. While awaiting
the final results of the 2013 AUDI Art Award for the
most innovative young artist, Bill Balaskas speaks
about the evolution of art in Greece and his strong
ties with the home country.
How often are you in Greece?
I visit Greece at least two or three times a year for
a few weeks at a time to see my family and friends.
After London, which city would be your next stop?
Ρersonally, Istanbul and professionally, New York.
Artist with an international career or Greek art-
ist abroad?
The most appropriate – and demanding – reply would
be ‘Greek artist abroad with an international career’.
Do you feel an ambassador of Greek culture?
To answer that question, one must first of all have a
quite strict definition of what Greek culture is. It pre-
supposes a prevailing narrative which, afterwards,
that person will be called on to serve. I don’t per-
ceive culture through that kind of lens talking about
art and a culture that continues to evolve today.
Do you feel an inner need to promote your country?
I wouldn’t call it an ‘inner need’ but a natural conse-
quence of my identity. ‘Promotion’ has a useful and
positive role only to the extent that it gives meaning
to a work. In other words you become an ambas-
sador when, first of all, you do your work well, not
when something becomes an end in itself.
How often do your works contain Greek elements?
In recent years, quite frequently. For example, my
recent solo exhibition at Kalfayan Galleries in Ath-
ens had a quintessentially ‘Greek’ character, since
those works investigated the cultural causes of the
crisis that Greece is now going through. Μost of my
88
