An Athenian “neo-muralist” is mixing Greek mythology and Byzantine iconography with graffiti and avenue art to depict how the coronavirus has compelled individuals the globe more than to set down roots.

From Bangkok to Rabat and Zurich, Fikos has painted the partitions of several cities, but he’s now introducing a splash of colour to the sun-overwhelmed facades of the Cypriot cash Nicosia.

“Listed here in Cyprus there are not several murals but,” he suggests. “It is really the commencing section of the street artwork scene in Cyprus, so… they are amazed and form of awed when they see this occurring.”
Greek artist Fikos, who describes himself as a “neo-muralist”, functions on a person of his murals in the Cypriot money Nicosia on June 04, 2021. An Athenian “neo-muralist” is mixing Greek mythology and Byzantine iconography with graffiti and road artwork to depict how the coronavirus has forced people the earth in excess of to put down roots.
(AFP/David Vujanovic)

The 33-year-outdated spends time wandering the narrow again alleys of Nicosia’s Outdated City in lookup of partitions to use as a canvas.

The one he chose for his hottest venture is the cracked veneer of a crumbling mud-brick property in an deserted, dusty ton near the UN-patrolled buffer zone that divides the city’s Greek and Turkish-talking halves.

The Greek artist, who describes himself as a “neo-muralist”, claims he has been residing on the Mediterranean island for the earlier 12 months amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a topic reflected in his most current piece.

Standing on a wobbly system, he will get to operate with a brushstroke alongside the brow of Amaracus, the perfume-maker of the legendary goddess Aphrodite, whose destiny he suggests befits lifestyle in the time of the coronavirus.

Little bit by bit, a sketch evolves into a jade-green male determine with leaves sprouting from his head, branches protruding from his upper body and roots extending from his legs.

“He obtained punished by the gods and acquired turned into a plant or flower,” claims Fikos, who explains that he made use of the tale from Cypriot mythology as an analogy for the pandemic, in the course of which people today “have developed roots” by keeping in just one location for so extensive.
Fikos says Cypriots have taken to his artwork, compared with other individuals who have a tendency to attach to it the stigma of graffiti.

His operates now adorn five facades on the Greek-Cypriot facet of Nicosia, which has been divided on ethnic strains due to the fact communal unrest erupted in 1963-4.

Fikos states he attracts from a diversified palette of influences, from artwork in ancient Greece to Egypt and Japan. 1 this kind of artwork is found close to the Environmentally friendly Line that divides Nicosia.

It reveals King Onassagoras, who dominated the kingdom of Ledra around 672 BC, future to a few woman figures — one particular of them Nicosia, depicted as a lady split in fifty percent.

“I analyzed Byzantine portray due to the fact I was 13 a long time aged in Athens, and I studied the art of the road in the streets,” claims Fikos.

“Avenue artwork has developed from graffiti and it has unique rules. You have to leave your stamp,” he says.
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“But my place of watch is totally distinct. I’m usually hoping to adapt my sketch to the ecosystem and get impressed from the colors of the neighbourhood. My approach is much more like fantastic art, I might say.”
Fikos suggests in the previous he was unable to influence Athenians to allow him paint more than the garish graffiti that blankets the metropolis, even for totally free.

But now his appeal is increasing the two at dwelling and overseas, and he gets paid for his perform.

Fikos claims he has been commissioned to paint murals in many nations around the world, which includes France, Eire, Mexico, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.

They can protect full facades of properties as large as 17 storeys, like one particular in Kiev, but they are not overbearing and never search out of area.

“Most of the time they have some thing in thoughts, they give me a topic,” Fikos claims of his commissions.

“But… I do my analysis on historical past, mythology or whatsoever I uncover proper, then I sketch and I begin to paint.”

As soon as the research is performed, the process of painting the murals can acquire just two or 3 much more days, he suggests.

“I’m mostly motivated by Greek mythology, due to the fact I rely on that if these myths have survived, they ought to have something to say.”