‘Meteoron’ by well-known and internationally-established sculptor and painter Kostis Georgiou, was installed opposite Thessaloniki’s City Hall on Tuesday.

The sculptural composition consists of 12 bright-red metal forms intertwined with each other on a vertical axis.

The work was placed on a marble base, designed by the artist himself.

“This work is a composition that from a young age I wanted to exist in the place where I was born. My heart and soul are always here,” Georgiou said.

“This piece belongs to Thessaloniki. I hope my compatriots love it as much as I love it and I hope it becomes a landmark in the city that people will enjoy,” the well-known artist added.

Referring to the symbolism of the project, Georgiou stressed that everyone has their own ‘code of life’ and will interpret it differently. “We could say that it is a moment of life in which friendship, solidarity and cooperation exist.”

On his part, the Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Zervas thanked the sculptor for the “new landmark” the Greek Cultural Capital has.

“Kostis Georgiou returns to his city and gives us an important creation of his. What we have been discussing for years today is taking shape and in this part of our city an important work is being placed that symbolises many things…From today the city will have another destination, another reason to visit, another nice photo for those who come to the city,” he said.

The sculpture reaches a height of 11 meters, and will soon be fitted out with lights.

Kostis Georgiou

Kostis Georgiou is a Greek contemporary artist and painter, born in 1956, in Thessaloniki, Greece.

He studied stage scenery in Florence, painting and sculpture in the School of Fine Arts, Athens, with Dimitris Mitaras and Dimosthenis Kokinidis, as well as at the Royal College of Fine Arts, London, with Peter de Francia. His first one-man exhibition was in Thessaloniki, in 1974.

Since then, his work has been represented in numerous solo and group exhibitions, all over the world and won several international awards.

Recently, Georgiou’s works were exhibited in a five museum tour in China.

His paintings and monumental sculptures can be found in public squares, sculpture gardens and numerous foundations & organizations throughout the world.

He has had exhibitions at the Benakis Museum, in Athens, State Museum of Modern Art, in Thessaloniki, Bank of Piraeus, Ministry of Greek Tourism, Ministry of Greek Culture, Osaka Museum of Modern Art, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, in Japan, National Bank of Greece, Eurobank, Greek Postbank, Absolute Americana Museum, in Florida, Museo Civico, in Italy, Red Cross, in Cyprus, Suzhou, in China.

His works can also be found in important private collections, such as the Commanderie de Peyrassol, a sculpture garden at a 1200s vineyard, in Provence, South of France.

Written By  |  GCT Team