The Allegories Of Vassilis Perros

Yannis P Valavanides

For years I have been observing Vassilis Perros’ work. I’ve been discussing with him, I’ve been watching how a young man, loving his work, matures. Commenting on works or view of colleagues, especially younger ones, was never easy for me but it’s an exercise that may prove to be beneficial for me too.

So I’ve been watching Vassilis’ painting evolve, going beyond it’s obvious skill and reaching more complex formulations. Throughout our discussions, his questions became more and more clearcut. He seemed to know where he was heading, he took under serious consideration the contemporary art forms and moved on with solemnity towards his choices. In that way, he was slowly forming his personal vocabulary, constantly broadening his intellectual horizon.

His course, so far, had no obvious ups an’ downs nor any abrupt changes in direction. On the contrary he seems to be going deeper and deeper, trying to reach the core of his questions. From the very beginning these questions concerned the human existence and the agonies the in creates, questions that don’t go along with the lightness of youth but demand a mature and complex way to be addresses.

Consequentially the images with which he chose to express his vision are complex too. They incorporate symbols, lettering, memories from the past, which all hold a specific role in attributing meaning to the works. But all of the above are part of a whole artistic proposition, a convincing personal inscription that avoids the party of convenience and often surpasses what the theme itself commands and enforces a glow of its own. The special visual qualities of this kind of painting create a characteristic atmosphere that surrounds the theme of the works and eliminates conceptual aridity.

That is why Vassilis Perros’ works cannot be seen hastily or one-sidedly. Only by careful observation they will disclose their “subterranean”, ironic and critical disposition hidden underneath their obvious lyricism and kindness. They are not easy works. The edges, hidden behind their beauty, operate subtly, without cynicism, without force, stimulating the viewer’s sensitivity, making one think about one’s place in the hard world.